The Minnesota Vikings are likely to start Kirk Cousins against the Green Bay Packers in their Week 10 matchup on Nov. 15. But with Cousins transitioning from the Las Vegas Raiders back to Minnesota in the middle of the week, questions remain about how quickly he can reacquaint himself with head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Former Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is confident Cousins can make the adjustment despite having only a few practices before the road game in Green Bay. Speaking on Nov. 11, Thielen said Cousins has been playing well and should be able to step in and contribute.
“He’s been playing really good football, so now he’s ready to plug and play,” Thielen said. He acknowledged that learning the offense’s terminology and handling long play calls could be challenging, but noted that a wristband can help Cousins read the plays rather than listen to and repeat them.
Thielen also recalled how Cousins used to record play calls as voice messages and listen to them in his car, practicing how to relay the plays before entering the team facility. “I guarantee he’ll do that every single night moving forward and he’ll be ready to go,” Thielen said.
## Cousins’ Experience Could Help the Vikings
Thielen said Cousins’ intelligence, game knowledge and experience should help him get up to speed quickly. He added that a quarterback who can manage the mental demands of the offense allows the rest of the team to play faster without overthinking.
That could be especially important for Minnesota, which needs a win to avoid a third consecutive loss.
## Could Cousins Stay in Minnesota Beyond This Season?
Cousins is 38 and on a one-year contract. Former Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim described the situation as an audition and said he could see reasons for both sides to continue their relationship if the season goes well.
“I would call it an audition,” Keim said. He added that Cousins will need to decide how long he wants to play, but suggested that Minnesota’s defense and the team’s potential to keep building momentum could make staying appealing. Keim also said he had seen an interview in which Cousins expressed that he had wanted to remain in Minnesota all along.
