The Minnesota Vikings‘ 2025 campaign has been defined by quarterback issues, as the coaching staff is struggling to figure out a way to get wins with a combination of J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz filling in under center. After suffering a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8 on Thursday Night Football, the team may be ready to turn back to McCarthy under center.
Around the league, the Vikings will surely be keeping close tabs on one of their former starters, Kirk Cousins, who is now with the Atlanta Falcons. That’s because, after getting benched late last season in favor of Michael Penix Jr., Cousins has seen a major opportunity slide across his plate ahead of the team’s Week 8 action.
Kirk Cousins Set to Start for Falcons in Week 8
After spending six seasons as the Vikings’ starting quarterback, Cousins departed in free agency, signing a four-year, $180 million contract with the team. While the deal was already viewed as somewhat expensive, the situation became even more confusing when the Falcons promptly selected Penix with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Still, Cousins was Atlanta’s starting quarterback for the majority of last season. As the year went on, though, Cousins’s struggles became more and more amplified, and he ended up getting benched in favor of Penix for the final three games of the year. And even with Cousins having a massive contract to his name, Penix has remained the team’s starter to begin the 2025 campaign.
That has left Cousins serving as the most expensive backup quarterback in NFL history, as the Falcons seem to have no intention of moving on from him currently. Their plan to hold onto Cousins could end up becoming viewed as a smart one, though, because the veteran passer will draw the start under center in Week 8 with Penix unlikely to be able to go due to a knee injury.
“ESPN Sources: Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is ‘highly likely’ to start Sunday’s game vs. the Dolphins as Michael Penix recovers from a bone bruise to his knee,” Adam Schefter of ESPN shared in a post on X. “Penix was limited at practice all week and Cousins worked with the first-team offense, gearing up to start Sunday.”
Vikings Will Keep Close Tabs on Kirk Cousins’ Upcoming Start
GettyQuarterback Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons.
The timing of Cousins’ first start of the season is a bit interesting. With the trade deadline right around the corner, if Cousins balls out, a team in need of a quarterback could potentially try to swing a trade with the Falcons to bring him to town. It’s also an important time for Atlanta, as a win in Week 8 would push its record back above .500.
With both McCarthy and Wentz struggling this season, some rumors linking the Vikings to a potential reunion with Cousins have begun to pop up, but the logistics of his massive contract obviously complicate the situation. Regardless, Minnesota will be keeping close tabs on Cousins to see how he fares, and if he wants any shot at reviving his career, he’s going to have to torch the Miami Dolphins‘ horrific defense when they take the field against the Falcons on Sunday.
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