The Minnesota Vikings appear to have made a key decision at the quarterback position involving backup signal-caller Sam Howell.
Minnesota benched the former Washington Commanders starter on Friday, Aug. 1, after he chucked an interception. Head coach Kevin O’Connell then inserted QB3 Brett Rypien under center, while Howell took his place on the sideline.
Howell battled through relatively consistent struggles earlier in training camp against the first-team defense, and as Week 2 of camp rolled around the Vikings showed less confidence in him rather than more.
All of that points to Minnesota acquiring a viable QB2 at some point this month via a pattern of quarterback evaluation and addition the team has engaged in before, which Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune discussed on the Saturday edition of the “Access Vikings” podcast.
“I think there is going to continue to be a hunt for an option there. We saw them do that three years ago with Nick Mullens — making the trade for him during the preseason — and he ends up becoming the No. 2 quarterback for the next three years,” Goessling said. “If they found something they liked that worked in a trade, I wouldn’t be surprised if they found a way to make something happen.”
Friction Between Kirk Cousins, J.J. McCarthy in Locker Room Biggest Potential Issue
GettyQuarterback Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons.
It didn’t take long for the podcast hosts to bring up the topic of a reunion with Kirk Cousins after that observation from Goessling.
“I don’t think it’s impossible,” Goessling replied. “There’s still a very good relationship between Kirk Cousins and Kevin O’Connell. They are still friends. They are still, I think, in contact at times.”
However, while Cousins makes complete sense as a backup given that he’s a four-time Pro Bowler who led the Vikings to the playoffs in O’Connell’s offense following the 2022 campaign, there are issues Minnesota would need to iron out to make the move work.
Goessling noted three potential concerns: Cousins’ health, his contract and his fit in a locker room that will be led by 22-year-old J.J. McCarthy as the Week 1 starter.
“It’s not his team anymore,” Goessling said of Cousins. “I think everybody would have to be on the same page about what roles are and what expectations are. That would be the biggest hurdle, and I think the optics of that would be tricky as well.”
Kirk Cousins Struggled Down Stretch of 2024 Campaign, Battled Injuries to Elbow and Shoulder
GettyFormer Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins.
As far as Cousins’ health goes, he sustained elbow and shoulder injuries during a game against the New Orleans Saints in Week 10 of last season.
Cousins continued to play for several weeks, though his production plummeted beginning in that contest against the Saints. Including that loss, he threw for just one TD compared to nine INTs across a five-game span, during which the Atlanta Falcons went 1-4. The team then pulled him in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr.
However, over the first nine weeks of the campaign, Cousins threw for 17 TDs compared to seven INTs and led the Falcons to a 6-3 record. If his downturn in performance as the season wore on was merely based on his health issues, and those are presumably fine now approximately nine months since he sustained them, then Cousins should be a more-than-viable backup option in Minnesota — even despite turning 37 years old later this month.
Kirk Cousins’ Contract Could Be Issue, but Vikings Should Get Discount
GettyQuarterback Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons.
Cousins inked a four-year deal worth $180 million with Atlanta in the spring of 2024. However, after a $10 million roster bonus the Falcons paid him in March, the QB’s base salary for the season is $27.5 million.
The Vikings won’t pay that much for Cousins at this age and coming off last season’s performance, particularly as a backup signal-caller. However, if Minnesota is willing to take on somewhere in the ballpark of $10 million of his salary, it could be enough to get a deal done.
That remains a boatload to pay for a backup QB, but McCarthy has never taken a regular-season snap, Minnesota has no viable QB2 at the moment, Cousins knows the offense and has been successful in it, and the Vikings’ options are relatively limited otherwise.
Not to mention, Minnesota could prove a legitimate Super Bowl contender if it can get average to above-average play from the position in 2025.
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