EAGAN, Minn. — From the second the NFL launched its schedule, Week 14 appeared like a referendum for Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings. Cousins could be returning to U.S. Financial institution Stadium, the place he performed six seasons because the Vikings’ quarterback, however this time with a brand new crew. The homecoming would give everybody the platform to ask and reply some large questions.
Did Cousins make the correct name in turning down a suggestion to re-sign with the Vikings in March, doubtless for yet one more season, to signal a four-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons price $100 million in full ensures? And would the Vikings remorse letting him depart with out having a possible successor on the roster?
The solutions appear clear even earlier than the sport is performed.
The Vikings are 10-2 behind quarterback Sam Darnold, who has produced a career-best 12 months whereas taking part in below a one-year contract price $10 million. Mathematically, the Vikings’ document would not be a lot better — if in any respect — had Cousins returned. Cousins, who will probably be paid $62.5 million this season alone, has been inconsistent sufficient to generate questions concerning the potential ascension of rookie Michael Penix Jr. to jump-start a 6-6 crew.
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Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson, who stated final 12 months that Cousins returning to Minnesota could be excellent, stated this week he thinks Cousins stays excited to be in Atlanta.
“However on this finish,” Jefferson stated. “We’re 10-2 and we now have a brand new quarterback that we’re assured in and someone that may be a chief and might fill that spot. So I really feel prefer it’s labored out each methods.”
By way of Week 13, Darnold ranks No. 4 within the NFL with 23 landing passes, No. 5 in yards per try (8.2) and No. 10 in complete passing yards (2,952). His 14 turnovers led the league as lately as two weeks in the past, however that title now sits with Cousins (15), who threw 4 interceptions in a 17-13 loss final week to the Los Angeles Chargers and hasn’t tossed a landing cross in his previous three video games.
ESPN reported in August that Cousins would have given higher consideration to the Vikings’ provide if he knew on the time that the Falcons deliberate to draft Penix. This week, Cousins stated: “You simply really feel a lot gratitude for these folks and I feel that is actually the primary emotion you’re feeling.”
Darnold, alternatively, saved the Vikings’ season after rookie J.J. McCarthy went on injured reserve in August due to a torn meniscus in his proper knee. Darnold has benefitted from an elite group of skill-position gamers and cross blockers, in addition to a number of the NFL’s greatest QB mentors in head coach Kevin O’Connell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown. However his latest play particularly — 811 yards, seven complete touchdowns and no interceptions in his previous three video games — has been among the many NFL’s greatest on the place.
“A lot of the 12 months he is performed actually good soccer,” O’Connell stated. “I am actually happy with him. However his journey over these final two, three weeks, placing in a whole lot of exhausting work and persevering with to type of develop all through his in-season journey this 12 months, has been actually cool to observe.”
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THE VIKINGS SIGNED Darnold, who washed out with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers earlier in his profession, to be a placeholder for the rookie they deliberate to draft the next month. That turned out to be McCarthy, the No. 10 decide and fifth quarterback chosen within the 2024 draft. McCarthy’s transition to the professional stage began slowly, however he made speedy enchancment in coaching camp, capped by a well-received debut within the Aug. 10 preseason opener in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders.
McCarthy would not take one other snap after that, as docs found the torn meniscus in his proper knee that required season-ending surgical procedure. Had he prevented severe damage, McCarthy had an out of doors likelihood of profitable the beginning job. As an alternative, the function fell to Darnold, whether or not he was prepared or not. It did not take lengthy for coaches and teammates to comprehend he was.
“He is a baller,” security Harrison Smith stated. “He could make stuff occur when he must.
“I do know the skin narrative on him, and his path and every thing, however ever since he obtained right here, I do not know. It felt like that is what was going to occur. He is simply confirmed it.”
The worth of the Vikings’ resolution to transition from Cousins is obvious far past Darnold’s on-field efficiency. The Vikings took a $28.5 million dead-money hit on their wage cap ledger to account for the remnants of Cousins’ earlier contract, however he’ll disappear solely from their 2025 books.
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That allowed the Vikings to signal practically two dozen unrestricted free brokers and/or incumbents with expiring contracts through the spring and summer time, along with giving Jefferson a $140 million contract extension and doling out one other $110 million to left deal with Christian Darrisaw. Jefferson ranks second within the NFL in receiving yards (1,038), however three key members of the free agent class — linebackers Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman — have additionally performed enormous roles on this season’s success.
The Vikings employed accounting measures to restrict the trio’s 2024 wage cap expenses to a mixed $12.3 million, in deference to the lifeless cash consumed by Cousins’ contract and others. Subsequent season, the mixed wage cap numbers for Greenard, Van Ginkel and Cashman will rise to $41.5 million, however that is practically similar to the $40 million Cousins is scheduled to make with the Falcons in 2025.
In describing his team-building plan after Cousins’ departure, basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stated: “It is a assortment of gamers, folks, totally different factors of their profession, and also you’re making an attempt to hit that magical craps roll the place a whole lot of issues occur collectively without delay.”
The almost definitely situation for 2025 is Darnold will parlay this season right into a beginning job elsewhere, whereas McCarthy — and his $4.97 million cap cost — will ascend to QB1 for the Vikings. If that occurs, Darnold and the Vikings could have maximized their time collectively.
“It is simply an unbelievable place,” Darnold stated. “I imply, the blokes in that locker room … after which simply the folks right here. Clearly, the folks within the group, however the folks that stay in Minnesota have been superior. In every single place I am going, simply very real, very good, cordial folks. I am simply actually having fun with my time right here.”
COUSINS WAS AT Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a draft-night celebration on April 25. On his means again to his in-laws’ dwelling, the place he and his household have been staying, Cousins obtained a name from offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
To the shock of many — Cousins included — the Falcons have been about to take a quarterback with the No. 8 decide, regardless of apparent wants elsewhere, particularly at edge rusher. Robinson phoned Cousins a couple of minutes earlier than as a heads-up.
Cousins considered Atlanta as a spot the place he might retire. His spouse, Julie, is from Georgia, and her household, who stay within the space, are diehard Falcons followers. The choice of Penix indicated Cousins may not be with the franchise for so long as he hoped.
Taking a quarterback got here “out of nowhere,” Cousins stated on the “Pure Athlete” podcast in June, however he remained skilled and texted Penix that evening. The 2 have cast a stable relationship.
However not solely did Atlanta fail to fill a necessity for 2024 with the top-10 decide, it turned inevitable that in some unspecified time in the future, there could be requires Penix to start out if Cousins struggled.
These calls have begun.
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Cousins helped lead Atlanta to a 6-3 begin, its greatest since making the Tremendous Bowl in 2016, however he has six interceptions and no landing passes over the previous three video games — all losses. Cousins threw 4 interceptions, together with a pick-six, in opposition to the Chargers on Sunday. The Falcons have misplaced what was a commanding NFC South lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6).
Now, coming off maybe the worst three-game stretch of his 13-year profession, Cousins will probably be heading again to Minnesota with the strain of requires Penix in his ear and the destiny of a once-promising season on the road. The Vikings’ protection is led by the imaginative Brian Flores and is fourth within the league with 39 sacks, and opposing QBs are averaging an 81.0 passer score, which is fourth worst within the NFL.
Even Matt Ryan, the Falcons’ final franchise quarterback, who’s at the moment an analyst, informed CBS Sports activities earlier this week that Penix ought to play if Cousins continues to wrestle.
“It is simply type of been a deal, the place this league and soccer and my journey is, it at all times kicks you down, and you bought to discover a strategy to get again up, and I discover myself there once more,” Cousins stated Wednesday. “I want I might say I do not, I want I might say I wasn’t in that spot, however I discover myself there once more and have to simply consider that powerful occasions do not final, powerful folks do. And also you simply preserve going and pushing, and in some unspecified time in the future they’re going to inform you that, ‘Hey, you are not going to get one other likelihood. Your time is up on this league.’
“However till then, I’ll preserve making an attempt to choose myself up off the mat and get again to work.”
Falcons coach Raheem Morris has given Cousins an enthusiastic present of assist, saying after the Chargers sport that nobody provides them a greater likelihood to win than Cousins.
“Received to go to Minnesota and get a big-time win, and Kirk is able to go,” Morris stated. “Clearly, powerful sport and all these kind of issues, however he is been by way of … so much in his profession. However realistically, man, he is constructed for this and he is able to go.”
Morris stated he has mentioned the Vikings sport with Cousins and its significance.
“You bought to type of speak concerning the elephant within the room, going again to the place he is from,” Morris stated. “It will be a loud setting. Clearly, the setting they created for Minnesota is completely excellent.”
