A familiar face is back in Minnesota, and the Vikings hope he can rescue a struggling offense. Days after a historically bad offensive performance, the team turned to a quarterback it already knows well.
Kirk Cousins returned to the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, saying his history with the team’s coach convinced him to accept a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders.
Why did Kirk Cousins agree to the trade?
Cousins, 38, said he was not interested in completely starting over if he was traded this season. A phone call Tuesday afternoon with the Vikings coach helped convince him to accept the deal. He said a fresh start with a new system would have been much harder.
Kirk Cousins said the coach knows his strengths and weaknesses, what he can and cannot handle, and will try to protect him by avoiding plays that do not suit him.
It will be the third time the two have worked together, including when the coach was a quarterbacks coach in Washington. Their long relationship gives Cousins a head start in learning the weekly game plan.
What did the Vikings give up for Kirk Cousins?
Minnesota sent a pick in the third round of the 2027 draft to the Raiders. The Raiders then named rookie Fernando Mendoza their starter. Cousins had started nine games for Las Vegas this season.
Kirk Cousins played for the Vikings from 2018 to 2023 and knows the team’s offensive system well. He led Minnesota to the playoffs during his first stint and made several Pro Bowls.
The Vikings general manager said the roster has earned the right to explore every way to maximize its potential. The team believes it can still make a deep run.
Will Cousins start against the Packers?
The coach stopped short of confirming that Cousins will start Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, saying that is the goal but that he wants to be fair to Cousins and make sure he feels ready.
The Packers coach said he was fairly confident Kirk Cousins would start. The Vikings and Packers are division rivals, adding extra weight to the matchup.
Kirk Cousins spent Wednesday morning reviewing the offense and early game plans with the coaching staff. The Vikings did not practice Wednesday.
What is happening with the Vikings quarterbacks?
Kyler Murray, the starter in Week 1, remains out with a strained hamstring. Carson Wentz is dealing with an ankle injury. Murray will back up Cousins once healthy, the coach said. Injuries have left the team thin at the position.
The coach did not commit to Wentz as the backup and said rookie Max Brosmer is still developing. He said he believes in all of his quarterbacks. He noted that health can change quickly for any player.
Wentz struggled badly in Monday night’s loss to Buffalo, posting the lowest quarterback rating of the season. The Vikings have lost two straight after starting with six wins and have the second least efficient offense in the league by one advanced measure. The offense has been held without a touchdown in three games this season.
How did Cousins’ family react?
Cousins said he asked his wife, Julie, whether the family should join him. She asked their two sons, who quickly agreed, and the family is now staying at the team hotel. Cousins said the family is excited for the weeks ahead.
With a familiar coach, a familiar system and his family by his side, Kirk Cousins is ready for his second stint in Minnesota. The Vikings are counting on him to steady an offense that has lost its way.
