The Minnesota Vikings are backed into a corner.
J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz are both hurting, and neither quarterback has played particularly well when on the field.
The Vikings’ only other QB is undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, who showed promise in the preseason but also isn’t a logical replacement.
The situation has Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio speculating about a familiar face: Kirk Cousins.
Florio thinks the Vikings could try to trade for Cousins before the Nov. 4 trade deadline.
“By November 4, the Falcons could be willing to move Cousins out. And the Vikings could be willing to move Cousins in,” Florio wrote on Tuesday. “Frankly, a move like that could be the only chance the Vikings have to end their current trend of failing to make the playoffs in back-to-back years. They last qualified for the postseason in consecutive years in 2008 and 2009.”
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Cousins originally joined the Vikings from Washington in 2019. He made three Pro Bowls with Minnesota.
In six years with the Vikings, Cousins had a 50-37-1 record. He completed 67.9% of his passes in the purple and gold.
Cousins threw for 23,265 yards with the Vikings and tossed 171 touchdowns compared to 55 interceptions.
Before the 2024 season, Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons. But less than two months later, they drafted QB Michael Penix Jr. with their top-10 pick.
Now, Penix is the starter, and Cousins is the most expensive backup in football.
If the Falcons decide to trade Cousins away, a return to Minnesota certainly has some logic to it.


