The Minnesota Vikings acquired quarterback Kirk Cousins about 90 minutes before Tuesday’s trade deadline, bringing him back to the team for a second stint. Minnesota entered the deal at 6-2 after consecutive losses, and the offense’s inconsistent quarterback play had left the team short of its potential. The Vikings gave up their 2027 third-round pick to complete the trade.
The deal was not certain to happen. The Las Vegas Raiders initially were reluctant to trade Cousins, with some people in the organization favoring a plan to keep him beyond the deadline and delay Fernando Mendoza’s first start. Minnesota had contacted Las Vegas before the previous weekend, but the Raiders’ willingness to make a deal became clearer only after Sunday.
Trading Cousins suited the Raiders’ long-term plans. The team received a third-round pick, gave Mendoza the opportunity to learn from a veteran quarterback for seven months, and avoided a guaranteed $10 million bonus owed to Cousins on the third league day of the 2027 season.
## Cousins Set to Start Against Green Bay
Cousins is expected to start against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, just five days after returning to Minnesota. The Vikings beat Green Bay in Week 1, but the teams head into their next matchup with records of 6-2 and 6-3, respectively.
A loss at Lambeau Field would drop Minnesota to last place in the NFC North. If the Vikings win and the Detroit Lions lose, Minnesota would regain the division lead.
The Vikings hope Cousins can stabilize an offense that has struggled under Kyler Murray and, more recently, Carson Wentz. If Cousins can approach the level of play he showed in 2026, Minnesota will have renewed reason for optimism.
