The Minnesota Vikings are not where they want to be at this point in the season. The team is at the bottom of the rankings for the NFL North with a 4-6 record and just dropped a game to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, November 16, with a 19-17 final score. So, things need to change and fast.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been hot and cold this season, but against the Bears, he was cold. According to research from Pro Football Reference, McCarthy’s on-target percentage is 59.9%, which is at the bottom of NFL quarterbacks. The league average for on-target percentage is 74.5%, so much higher. He also has eight interceptions, the fourth most in the NFL, and he’s only played five games in his NFL career.
So, McCarthy needs development. He was out all last season, and the numbers are showing that he needs more work to step into the franchise quarterback role, which shouldn’t be a big surprise. Now, Alex Kay of Bleacher Report has an idea of who could fill McCarthy’s shoes and even get the Vikings to the championship game.
Minnesota Vikings Predicted to Bring Back a Familiar Face
Don’t be depressed about the Vikings’ quarterback situation, because they aren’t alone. In his Tuesday, November 18 feature, Kay notes that “it’s already become clear that a good chunk of NFL teams have a quarterback problem that will need to be addressed during the 2026 offseason.”
He has a solution for the Minnesota Vikings. It’s not a new idea, but Kay says to just bring Kirk Cousins back. If the shoe fits, right?
“Reuniting with Kirk Cousins would open the door for Minnesota to immediately contend again,” he notes in the feature. “The team has a proven history of success with the veteran, going 13-4 with him as recently as 2022.”
Kay makes a good point that Cousins and Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell simply work well together. Cousins was having the best games of his career under O’Connell, and he could quickly and easily step right back into that role. “Given O’Connell’s 17-8 record with Cousins (he’s just 2-3 with McCarthy), it could be highly beneficial to make a deal that brings the 14-year veteran back into the fold after two seasons away,” Kay notes.
Making Sense of the Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Idea
Of course, Cousins has already signed with the Atlanta Falcons through the 2027 season. But, he’s been on the bench and should be available for the right mix of offerings.
So, bringing Cousins back wouldn’t set up the franchise for the next decade, but it could give the Vikings some time to develop McCarthy. Plus, if Cousins picks up where he left off, Minnesota could really be a contender not just in the NFC North but in the greater league.
Bringing Cousins back might not sound like the most exciting or innovative idea. But, as long as it works, that’s all that really matters. It’s getting more difficult to find a dependable veteran quarterback in the NFL who’s readily available, let alone one who already has a history and chemistry with the coaching staff. The Vikings could do worse than bringing Cousins back.
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