On Tuesday, the Vikings worked the phones and finally found a new starting quarterback in Kirk Cousins. On Wednesday, work began to bring Cousins up to speed.
Although general manager Nolan Teasley deferred to coach Kevin O’Connell on the new depth chart with Cousins in the room, Teasley also stated the obvious during a press conference with reporters.
“We…didn’t acquire Kirk to not play,” Teasley said.
Teasley pointed to various factors that led to the Vikings finding Cousins, including his familiarity with the offense, the organization and the coaching staff. Teasley also noted Cousins’ “active arm,” touch, placement and accuracy.
Teasley also tried to push back against the perception (if not the reality) that Monday night’s disaster against the Bills had triggered a Tuesday fire drill that ended with Cousins being traded.
“I would tell you no,” Teasley said of the Week 9 game’s impact on the outcome. “We’ve been looking for ways to improve this football team, again, for weeks. And we just went through the process. We cast a wide net. And ultimately, that’s what we landed on, and it was the right decision for the moment.”
That’s true, but it’s hard not to make the connection between Monday night’s performance and Tuesday’s trade deadline. Indeed, if the trade deadline hadn’t been moved from the Tuesday after Week 8 to the Tuesday after Week 9, the window might have closed before the Vikings realized how badly they needed to get through it.
Ultimately, it’s clear the Vikings felt compelled to make the most of what the team currently has.
“This list has earned the right to explore the potential to maximize where we can take this thing,” Teasley said.
Could Cousins stay with the Vikings beyond the current season?
“There’s always potential for that, but we’re really talking about 2026.” » Teasley said. “And that’s where our focus is…When the time comes, we’ll fix it.”
For now, they have looked to get the most out of the side of the ball that is in deep trouble.
“We still believe in the potential of the offense,” Teasley said. “There’s a lot of really talented players there. So it’s about doing what’s best for the Vikings as a whole.”
Teasley chose not to engage in a hypothetical discussion about Cousins’ impact on the team’s cap.
“They’re a really good football team,” Teasley said. “We’re 6-2 in eight games and we just acquired a really good football player.”
Although Teasley won’t address the what-ifs, others will. Without Cousins, the Vikings were doomed to implode. They wouldn’t have won enough games to make the playoffs.
NOW? They are in position to win the NFC North – and maybe win a playoff game or two. If, as it appears, the trade rejuvenates the defense and elevates the offense, the Vikings will become one of the most balanced teams in the league.
Which will give them an opportunity to navigate what will be the meat grinder of the impending NFC playoff tree.
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