With Justin Jefferson returning from injured reserve, Kevin O'Connell says the Minnesota Vikings will start the quarterback that can best maximize the star wide receiver.

The Vikings are off in Week 13 and have three options at quarterback -- Josh Dobbs, Jaren Hall and Nick Mullins.

After Dobbs threw four interceptions Monday night in a 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears, O'Connell said he would use the team's upcoming bye to reevaluate his options at the position.

On Tuesday, he said Jefferson's return is "definitely a part" of the discussion he'll have with his coaching staff and the team's front office before choosing a starter for the Vikings' Dec. 10 game at the Las Vegas Raiders. 

"Justin's role in our offense, really from Day 1 since we arrived here, has always been very, very significant," O'Connell said. "... Anytime you can infuse the best receiver in football back into your offense, there's going to be ways to not only get Justin going and make sure he has a critical impact on the football game ... [and] the quarterback position absolutely plays into that.

"We're going to make sure that whoever is playing quarterback is aware and understands the intent behind plays where either Justin is the primary [target], or based upon coverage, based upon the defensive look, how to quickly and efficiently get to the right place to go with the football. In the end that's what the NFL passing game is about: rhythm, timing, understanding that the defense can and will take some things away, but progressing in rhythm."

Kevin O'Connell wouldn't commit to Josh Dobbs as the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings after the team's 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday night.

Dobbs threw four interceptions in the game, which was the Vikings' last before their bye week.

He was forced into emergency duty in Week 9, five days after the Vikings acquired him in an Oct. 31 trade with the Arizona Cardinals, when rookie Jaren Hall suffered a concussion.

"We're going to take a look and really evaluate the inventory of plays we have of Josh," O'Connell said. "We got healthy. We got Jaren back available to us, and then Nick Mullens is available as well."

NFL betting history will be made on Monday night if the Minnesota Vikings cover as 3-point favorites against the Chicago Bears.

Favorites have covered the spread in 12 of 15 games in Week 12, tying the record for most in a single week (Week 12 of 2017) in the Super Bowl era.

Justin Jefferson wants to return to the field for the Minnesota Vikings after missing six games with a hamstring injury, but the wide receiver isn't going to rush back.

He has been questionable for the past two weeks after the Vikings opened up his practice window on Nov. 8 after a stint on the injured reserve.

Jefferson posted on X that he is more concerned about his long-term health than helping fantasy football managers. He was the consensus No. 1 overall pick in fantasy drafts.

"My health is wayyyy more important than you winning your fantasy games. It doesn't matter how many times y'all flood my dms talking about me selling your team. I DONT CARE," he wrote.

The Vikings have an extra day to prepare this week as they'll face the Chicago Bears on Monday night, and Kevin O'Connell did tell reporters Monday that Jefferson will likely be questionable again. 

Justin Jefferson won't return to the field for the Minnesota Vikings until he's 100%.

The Vikings opened his window for returning to practice this week as he rehabs an injured right hamstring.

"The hamstring is a difficult injury just because it lingers and it comes back from time to time if you don't put the right treatment into it," Jefferson said.

"The guys and the rest of the coaching staff in this building know my worth on the field and they want me at 100 percent, as I do as well. I don't want to go out there at 80 or 90 percent and have the chance of hurting it again. It's just day-to-day, and when that time comes, I'll definitely be ready to step out there."

The deadline for the Vikings to add him to their active roster is Nov. 29, which is during their bye week.

Kirk Cousins is done for the season with an Achilles injury and is due to become a free agent.

Despite that, Kevin O'Connell has expressed a desire to see Cousins return to the Minnesota Vikings.

"Kirk Cousins is going to be healthy again," O’Connell said. "I know he's going to be a free agent after this season, but Kirk knows how I feel about him and that will be something, you know, that hopefully will work itself out. ... You guys know how I feel about Kirk. Kirk knows how I feel about Kirk. I think he was playing as well as anybody in the National Football League."