Vikings QB Kirk Cousins not guaranteed to start vs. Packers, but door is wide open

Vikings QB Kirk Cousins not guaranteed to start vs. Packers, but door is wide open appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins could start Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, but head coach Kevin O’Connell has not finalized that decision following Tuesday’s trade with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Vikings are preparing for that possibility as Cousins returns to the team he played for from 2018-2023. Minnesota acquired the veteran for a 2027 third-round pick, with the deal pending a physical. His familiarity with O’Connell’s offense gives the reunion added significance ahead of an NFC North matchup at Lambeau Field. Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial) NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter, that O’Connell stopped short of naming Cousins the starter while explaining where preparations stand. “That’s what we’re working toward but also want to be fair to Kirk and make sure he feels good about it.” Minnesota’s quarterback situation became more pressing after consecutive losses dropped the team to 6-2 following a 6-0 start. Kyler Murray remains week-to-week with a hamstring injury. Carson Wentz struggled in his place during Monday’s 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills, completing eight of 25 passes for 81 yards and throwing two interceptions. Cousins, 38, arrives after completing 202 of 315 passes for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions with Las Vegas this season. He completed 64.1% of his attempts across nine starts before Tuesday’s trade brought him back to Minnesota. The reunion also reconnects Cousins with O’Connell , who coached him during the Vikings’ 13-4 season in 2022. A start Sunday would bring the veteran signal-caller back to the site of his final appearance during his first stint with Minnesota. He tore his Achilles at Lambeau Field on October 29, 2023, ending his season. For now, O’Connell has identified a Cousins start as the goal while leaving the final decision unresolved ahead of Sunday’s trip to Green Bay. Related: Kirk Cousins gets completely real on playing with Vikings’ Justin Jefferson again after trade Related: Vikings trade deadline grade after fixing QB issues with Kirk Cousins deal