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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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Kirk Cousins will not have to wait another week to begin his second stint as Minnesota’s starting quarterback.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell announced Friday that Cousins will start Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, making official the anticipated quarterback change just three days after Minnesota acquired him from Las Vegas.
The decision puts the veteran in charge of an offense trying to recover from consecutive losses after a 6-0 start.
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Minnesota sent the Raiders a 2027 third-round draft pick to bring Cousins back Tuesday. O’Connell initially declined to name him the starter, saying the team needed to get him comfortable before committing to a plan for Sunday. Friday’s announcement settles that question.
The assignment comes with a familiar opponent and an emotional setting.
Cousins’ last appearance for Minnesota came at Lambeau Field in October 2023, when he tore his Achilles during a 24-10 victory over the Packers. He then spent two seasons with Atlanta before joining Las Vegas this spring.
Now, his first game back in purple will take place on the same field where that earlier chapter ended.
His return has already drawn an enthusiastic response from Justin Jefferson.
“It’s definitely a surreal moment for him to be here, and to hear his leadership and hear his control over the offense,” Jefferson said Thursday.
Cousins returns with experience in O’Connell’s offense and established connections with several of Minnesota’s top targets. He threw for 6,878 yards and 47 touchdowns across 25 regular-season starts under O’Connell in 2022 and 2023, giving him a head start as he prepares to take over on short notice.
He also brings evidence that he can still produce. In nine starts for the Raiders this season, the 38-year-old completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, posting a 97.1 passer rating.
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Minnesota needs that production to translate quickly. Despite its 6-2 record, the offense ranks 31st in yards per game and has scored only 11 offensive touchdowns, tied for the fewest in the league.
Green Bay enters at 6-3 after winning five of its past six games. A divisional road matchup leaves little room for Minnesota to ease its newly acquired quarterback into the lineup.
Cousins acknowledged Wednesday that returning to Lambeau carries meaning, but said his performance would ultimately determine its significance.
With O’Connell’s decision now official, Sunday becomes his opportunity to give the reunion a winning start.
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