Kirk Cousins Starts for Vikings Against Packers After Raiders Trade
Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed Kirk Cousins will start at Green Bay on Sunday, a week after he started for the Raiders. Minnesota has also talked to the 38-year-old about staying through 2027, according to sources.
Is Kirk Cousins starting this week? Yes: Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell announced Friday that Cousins will start at quarterback against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, November 15, days after the Vikings acquired him from the Las Vegas Raiders.
The move makes NFL history. Cousins will be the first quarterback to start in back-to-back weeks for two different teams since starts became an official statistic in 1950, according to ESPN Research.
He started last week for the Raiders against the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings meet the 49ers next in Mexico City.
Vikings want more than a rental
Sources said the Vikings have already talked to Cousins about returning for the 2027 season. Before the trade was completed Tuesday, the team called his longtime agent, Mike McCartney, and made clear it wanted more than a one-year rental.
Cousins is due to become a free agent after this season. McCartney told general manager Nolan Teasley and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski that his client was open to continuing the relationship, with no firm offers or deadlines, and the trade moved ahead.
Minnesota took on the rest of Cousins' minimum salary for 2026. It also took on $10 million fully guaranteed in a 2027 roster bonus.
If he becomes the starter next year, that bonus would be folded into a salary expected to exceed it.
A season of quarterback turnover
Cousins is 38 and playing as well as he has since his last season in Minnesota. He enters Sunday fifth in the NFL in passing yards with 2,340 and second in touchdown passes with 20, behind only Joe Burrow.
The Vikings have cycled through Sam Darnold, J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Kyler Murray, then returned to Wentz. Jaren Hall, Josh Dobbs, Nick Mullens and Max Brosmer also took snaps along the way.
Sunday is also a homecoming of sorts. Lambeau Field is where Cousins played his last game with Minnesota.
If the Vikings reach the playoffs, he would become the first quarterback to start a playoff game for a team after starting regular-season games for another club in the same season.
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