EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Kirk Cousins has rejoined the Minnesota Vikings after not quite three years away, relishing his familiarity with the Twin Cities area, the people in the organization and, of course, coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
asserted
Cousins → rejoin → course
The improbable reunion with the quarterback-desperate Vikings, via their deadline-day trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, made so much sense for all sides that it hardly seemed like a surprise in the end.
asserted
it → make → end
“Kevin knows what I do well.
asserted
I → know → what
Kevin knows what I don’t do well.
asserted
I → know → what
Kevin knows what I can handle.
asserted
I → know → what
Kevin knows what I can’t handle,” Cousins said Wednesday after arriving at Vikings headquarters.
asserted
Cousins → know → headquarters
“And I think that helps.
asserted
that → think → ?
Not just that he knows your strengths, but that he knows your weaknesses.”
asserted
he → know → weaknesses
O’Connell stopped short of promising that Cousins would start Sunday at Green Bay — “That’s what we’re working toward, but we also want to make sure he feels good,” the coach said — but the Vikings didn’t send their 2027 third-round draft pick to the Raiders for more depth.
asserted
Vikings → stop → depth
With Kyler Murray’s strained hamstring not yet ready for practice after sidelining him for the last game and Carson Wentz reeling from his poor performance in the 23-6 loss to Buffalo, the Vikings needed a quick fix for a sputtering offense to keep their exceptionally dominant defense and consistently productive special teams from being wasted.
asserted
Vikings → strain → defense
They preceded consecutive defeats with a 6-0 start.
asserted
They → precede → start
Wentz went 8 for 25 for 81 yards with three turnovers against the Bills.
asserted
Wentz → go → Bills
Murray’s completion percentage (64.9) is his lowest since his rookie year with Arizona in 2019, and he has led the offense to just six touchdowns in five full games.
asserted
he → lead → games
Cousins, meanwhile, ranks second in the league with 20 touchdown passes and fifth with 2,340 yards.
asserted
Cousins → rank → yards
“His accuracy is something that you can really lean on snap in and snap out,” said O’Connell, who was Cousins’ quarterbacks coach with Washington in 2017 and hired as head coach in Minnesota in 2022.
asserted
who → lean → 2022
Packers coach Matt LaFleur had no doubt his defense will be playing against Cousins, who tore his Achilles tendon at Lambeau Field on Oct. 29, 2023, in his last game with the Vikings.
asserted
who → have → Vikings
“Obviously he’s got familiarity with their system.
asserted
he → get → system
Even if he didn’t, he’s a really intelligent guy, and I think he’s been playing at a high level,” LaFleur said.
asserted
LaFleur → do → level
“I’m surprised they didn’t get more for him, quite honestly.
asserted
they → ’m → him
I was shocked when I saw what they traded him for.
asserted
they → shock → him
It was mind-blowing to me.”
asserted
It → blow → me
New Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley said the poor performance by Wentz against the Bills did not spur him to get this deal done, but rather that conversations about enhancing several positions had been ongoing for several weeks.
asserted
conversations → say → weeks
The Vikings gave Cousins two contract extensions after first signing him in 2018 and had interest in reupping again in 2024, but only at a price they were comfortable with for their salary cap management considering their plan to use a high draft pick on a quarterback that spring.
asserted
they → give → quarterback
Cousins chose Atlanta for $100 million guaranteed and the chance to live near his wife’s family, but the Falcons blindsided him by taking Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick.
asserted
Falcons → choose → pick
Cousins was released after two seasons there and signed with the Raiders after they hired Klint Kubiak as coach.
asserted
they → release → coach
Kubiak worked closely with Cousins as quarterbacks coach for the Vikings from 2019-20 and offensive coordinator in 2021.
asserted
Kubiak → work → 2021
“I’m not too interested in completely starting over.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
There was a reason I went to Klint Kubiak this offseason,” Cousins said.
asserted
Cousins → be → Kubiak
“You’ve got to play off reaction and instinct, and if you’re thinking I don’t think you can quite be the player that you otherwise would be.
asserted
you → get → reaction
So to me it’s important to be able to play at a place that you feel you at least have the potential to do that.”
asserted
you → ’ → that
_
AP Sports Writer Steve Megargee in Green Bay, Wisconsin, contributed to this report.
asserted
Megargee → contribute → report
The Aporia
