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By Ellis Williams
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Kirk Cousins does not need a touchdown pass or a victory Sunday to put his return to the Minnesota Vikings into the NFL record book.
He needs to start.
After starting for the Las Vegas Raiders last week, Cousins is scheduled to lead Minnesota against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. That would make him the first quarterback to start for different teams in consecutive weeks since quarterback starts became official in 1950, according to ESPN Research, as Adam Schefter noted.
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The distinction is the timing, not simply playing for two franchises in one season. Cousins went from one starting job to the other without a week between them. Minnesota acquired him Tuesday, and head coach Kevin O’Connell named him the starter Friday.
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It is also a return to the place where Cousins’ previous Vikings run ended. His last start for Minnesota came at Lambeau Field in Week 8 of 2023, when he tore his Achilles during a victory over Green Bay. He had completed 23 of 31 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns before the injury, according to Minnesota’s announcement.
This time, the Vikings are asking him to pick up an offense he already knows rather than learn an entirely new system in five days. Cousins played for O’Connell in 2022 and 2023, and his earlier Minnesota tenure stretched across six seasons.
The Vikings brought him back after he started all nine of Las Vegas’ games this season. He completed 64.1% of his passes for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions with the Raiders.
Minnesota, meanwhile, was searching for more from its passing game. Carson Wentz completed eight of 25 attempts without a touchdown and with two interceptions against Buffalo on Monday night while replacing the injured Kyler Murray. The Vikings entered Sunday 6–2, with Green Bay at 6–3.
Cousins will not have all of his old receiving options available for the reunion. The Vikings’ inactive list includes Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, along with receiver Jauan Jennings. Addison had been questionable with a thumb injury after being added to the injury report Friday.
Wentz will back up Cousins, while Max Brosmer is designated the third quarterback. Minnesota’s official announcement confirms Sunday will be Cousins’ first Vikings start since that 2023 game in Green Bay.
The matchup is scheduled for noon Central. Cousins will be returning to a familiar offense, a familiar uniform and the same stadium where he last led Minnesota. What awaits him at kickoff is a distinction no quarterback has recorded in more than seven decades of tracked starts.
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