First Cousins: QB to get start vs. Packers in Vikings return

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  Kevin SeifertNov 13, 2026, 05:20 PM ET

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  Kevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL at ESPN. Kevin has covered the NFL for over 20 years, joining ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia.

EAGAN, Minn. -- Although there wasn't much question about it, Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed Friday that quarterback Kirk Cousins will start Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, five days after the Vikings re-acquired him from the Las Vegas Raiders at the trade deadline.

"I can't give him enough credit for coming in here and how he's gone about the week," O'Connell said, "both him and the coaching staff, getting him ready to go, working extremely hard, using all the time we possibly can. It's been really impressive, what he's been able to do, and just the command and getting right back in the huddle with a lot of guys he's played with, but certainly some guys he hasn't. It's been something that everybody has been very, very impressed with."

In the immediate aftermath of the trade, O'Connell had stopped short of naming Cousins his starter for Sunday, saying he wanted to make sure that Cousins felt comfortable with the quick turnaround. The two spent much of Wednesday morning together, working through a playbook that Cousins first learned when the Vikings hired O'Connell in 2022. Since departing Minnesota after the 2023 season, Cousins has played for both the Raiders and the Atlanta Falcons. He had only two practices this week with the Vikings, on Thursday and Friday, but O'Connell saw no red flags.

"It's something we've always known about him," O'Connell said, "but the way he threw the football this week was just a really cool thing to see."

Cousins, however, won't have his full complement of pass-catchers to work with Sunday. Tight end T.J. Hockenson won't play because of injuries to his wrist and chest, suffered in last Monday night's 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Wide receiver Jordan Addison, meanwhile, was added to the injury report Friday because of a thumb injury suffered in practice. The Vikings listed him as questionable.

Two other starters, linebacker Blake Cashman (concussion) and defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (ankle) were also ruled out.