A Monday MRI confirmed that Vikings QB Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles in the Week 8 win over the Packers, NFL Network reports. Cousins will miss the rest of the 2023 season. His contract is set to void in March, and Cousins will turn 36 in August, leaving his football future very uncertain. The Vikings, meanwhile, are left with QBs Jaren Hall and Sean Mannion for now. QB Nick Mullens, who at least has 655 NFL pass attempts under his belt, is eligible to come off IR next week. We'll see if Minnesota makes a move for a free-agent QB or swings a trade before tomorrow's trade deadline. Regardless, Cousins' absence is bad news for all of the team's skill-position players.
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins is feared to have torn his Achilles in Sunday's win over the Packers, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's typically easy for doctors to diagnose a torn Achilles without any imaging. We should get confirmation tomorrow, but Cousins' 2023 season is very likely over. His absence would leave Minnesota with QBs Jaren Hall and Sean Mannion. QB Nick Mullens is currently on IR with a back injury but is eligible to return. Regardless, Cousins' injury is horrible news for Minnesota's skill-position players.
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins suffered a right ankle injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Packers. He put no weight on the leg getting off the field and was carted to the locker room. We'll update Cousins' status when we know more. He's been replaced by rookie QB Jaren Hall.
The lights of primetime weren’t too bright for Vikings QB Kirk Cousins in Week 7. The veteran completed 35 of 45 passes for 378 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT in Monday night’s win vs. the 49ers. Despite missing talented WR Justin Jefferson for the second game in a row, Cousins’ passing yardage total from Week 7 is the highest he’s recorded in a game since Week 15 of 2022 vs. the Colts (460). 2023 hasn’t been as kind to the Vikings as last season, but it’s worth mentioning that Cousins still sits as the QB7 in fantasy points per game this year. Next week, he’ll have an opportunity to be a quality fantasy starter vs. the Packers.
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins threw for just 181 yards and 1 TD in the first game since losing WR Justin Jefferson to a hamstring injury. He took just 2 sacks and avoided throwing any INTs against the Bears. But Cousins did fumble twice, losing one of them. Rain didn't turn out to be an issue, and the wind didn't appear strong enough to be the whole problem here. Throw in how poorly the Chicago defense had played through the first five weeks, and this marks a worrisome performance -- especially with the 49ers coming to town in Week 7. Cousins already sits well outside the top 12 in our Week 7 QB rankings.
The Vikings will be placing WR Justin Jefferson on IR for the hamstring injury that knocked him out of Sunday's loss to the Chiefs. That means he'll miss at least the next four games. Jefferson's absence will obviously leave a bunch of targets for his Vikings teammates. Jefferson drew 47 through the first four games, 30% of QB Kirk Cousins' total attempts over that span. That makes rookie WR Jordan Addison a weekly starting candidate over the next month. He drew a season-high 9 targets in the K.C. game, reaching 6 receptions for the second time in three weeks. It also makes WR K.J. Osborn worth picking up in many leagues. But there's also a chance Jefferson's absence shifts the offensive approach. Minnesota leads the league in pass attempts through five weeks, sits tied for the lead in pass rate, and ranks third in pass rate over expected. Losing Jefferson figures to hurt the offense overall and could push a little more work to the running game. We're certainly not upgrading RB Alexander Mattison for this, but we'll be watching the offense's reaction over the next couple of weeks. Cousins clearly loses upside with the absence of arguably the league's best WR. Fortunately for him -- and fantasy managers -- the Vikings visit a bad Bears defense in the first game without Jefferson. That will help everyone's fantasy outlooks. An ominous Monday night date with the 49ers waits on the other side of that, however.
Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell said Monday afternoon that the team is still waiting on the results from the MRI on WR Justin Jefferson's hamstring. "We're going to do what's best for Justin and make sure we give him the treatment and plan that is a big picture positive for him," O'Connell said. It sure sounds like the Vikings are bracing for Jefferson to miss time. We'll update his status as soon as we know more. Jefferson's absence would leave behind lots of opportunity for WR Jordan Addison, WR K.J. Osborn, and TE T.J. Hockenson.
Vikings QB Kirk Cousins threw for just 139 yards on 12-of-19 passing in Sunday's win at Carolina. Cousins boosted his fantasy line with a pair of TDs to WR Justin Jefferson, but he also tossed 2 INTs. Minnesota got dominated in time of possession, spending just 21:31 on offense. Cousins gets potential shootout conditions back home against the Chiefs next week and then a high-upside matchup with the Bears. So you can probably brush this one off and keep using Cousins.
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