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By Ellis Williams
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Quarterback Kirk Cousins could pick up his Minnesota Vikings career in the same stadium where it came to an abrupt stop.
The Vikings are bringing Cousins back in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, and their next game is Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. That is where Cousins suffered the torn Achilles that ended his 2023 season and ultimately became his final appearance during his first stint in Minnesota.
That potential return adds another layer to a reunion driven by a more immediate problem. Minnesota needs better quarterback play after an ugly offensive performance on Monday Night Football, with a division opponent waiting on a short week.
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Minnesota is reportedly sending Las Vegas a third-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft for Cousins. The move brings him back to head coach Kevin O’Connell, whose offense he ran before leaving Minnesota following the 2023 season.
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Whether Cousins starts Sunday remains a separate question. The schedule puts Minnesota in Green Bay five days after the trade deadline, leaving a short turnaround to prepare for an NFC North opponent. His familiarity with O’Connell gives the reunion practical appeal, but it does not make a starting assignment automatic.
Cousins’ last Vikings appearance came on Oct. 29, 2023. Minnesota beat Green Bay 24-10 that afternoon, with Cousins completing 23 of 31 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns before leaving in the fourth quarter.
The injury changed the meaning of an otherwise encouraging win. Rookie quarterback Jaren Hall finished the game while Minnesota’s defense protected the lead. What looked like another step forward for the Vikings instead became the end of Cousins’ season.
Now Minnesota is turning back to him after another game that raised urgent questions about its offense.
Quarterback Carson Wentz completed eight of 25 passes for 81 yards and two interceptions in Monday’s 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Vikings failed to convert any of their eight third-down attempts and committed three turnovers, leaving their defense on the field for more than 42 minutes.
Minnesota still carries a 6-2 record into Sunday, so the move is about finding a steadier answer while there is a winning season to protect. The short week adds urgency to a decision that already arrived at the trade deadline.
Cousins does not need an introduction to the rivalry or the coach. If he starts on Sunday, his first chance to help the Vikings again would come on the same field where his previous run ended.
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