The Minnesota Vikings have officially turned to Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback for Sunday's Week 10 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, head coach Kevin O'Connell announced Friday. The decision comes days after Minnesota acquired the veteran in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders just before the NFL trade deadline. Starter Kyler Murray is out with a hamstring injury that O'Connell has described as week-to-week, and Murray has dealt with struggles and injuries earlier this season.

O'Connell praised Cousins' work during the week, saying, "Cannot give him enough credit for coming in here, how he's going about the week." Cousins played for Minnesota from 2018 to 2023 and was reunited with the team in the blockbuster deal on Tuesday. The Vikings sent Las Vegas their own 2027 third-round pick, while keeping the Philadelphia selection they obtained in the Jonathan Greenard trade. Cousins chose to return to Minnesota over staying in Las Vegas, where Fernando Mendoza was set to take over as the Raiders' starter.S1S3

The move was seen as a more viable alternative to backup Carson Wentz, whose play has been alarming. Minnesota's defense is among the league's best, allowing just 14.5 points per game, but the offense has struggled to keep pace and has threatened to waste that defense through preventable losses. Cousins, now 38, has thrown the NFL's second-most touchdown passes this season with 20, and this will be his 177th career regular-season start and 89th as a Viking. The Vikings started 6-0 but have lost their past two games.S1S3

Minnesota faces road games in Green Bay, San Francisco and New England, along with home matchups against Detroit and Chicago. ESPN FPI gives the Vikings an 84% chance to make the playoffs, though the Seahawks and Rams are lurking at 5-4 in a tough NFC North. Cousins also reclaims the No. 8 jersey he wore in his previous stint, with safety Jakobe Thomas switching to No. 6.S1S3