When Kirk Cousins went down with an injury in the Minnesota Vikings‘ Week 8 win over the Green Bay Packers, questions arose as to whether it might be his final game with the franchise.
What might Cousins’ future hold this offseason?
Kirk Cousins Set for Key Offseason Decision
Cousins was amid a torrid start to the 2023 NFL season when he suffered a torn Achilles against the Packers, ending his campaign just before the halfway point in the season.
The veteran quarterback’s contract is set to expire this offseason and was always going to leave him and the franchise with decisions to make ahead of the 2024 campaign. He cannot be franchise-tagged and has a no-trade clause in his current contract.
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At least to this point, it does not appear the injury is definitively the end of Cousins’ time with the Vikings. Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said Wednesday that “every option is still available with Kirk.”
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell expressed his desire for Cousins to remain with the franchise in 2024.
“Kirk knows how I feel about him,” O’Connell told reporters this week. “That’ll be something that will hopefully work itself out.”
Minnesota’s Other Options at QB
Minnesota does have some alternatives at quarterback if the two sides do not ultimately stay together this offseason.
The Vikings drafted rookie Jaren Hall in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and are set to start him in Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Hall went 3 of 4 for 23 yards as he relieved Cousins late in the Green Bay game following the injury.
Hall will be under contract through 2026 on his rookie deal and, thus, should stick around with Minnesota in the interim.
The Vikings also acquired Joshua Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals at the trade deadline after Cousins’ injury. His contract will expire after the 2023 season, but Dobbs could be a serviceable option to replace Cousins at perhaps a lower price tag depending on what he shows in Minnesota.
Time will tell where the Vikings ultimately go at quarterback this offseason, but it’s clear the franchise and Cousins have decisions to make ahead of the 2024 campaign.
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