Kirk Cousins played what appeared to be his final game for the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 29, 2023.
On that afternoon at Lambeau Field, Cousins had thrown for 274 yards and two touchdowns when he tore his right Achilles tendon and was lost for the season. That moment set off a three-year odyssey that improbably ended the way it began.
Cousins returned Tuesday to the Vikings, via a trade that sent their 2027 third-round draft pick to the Las Vegas Raiders, and could start Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field (1 p.m. ET, Fox). Since then, the Vikings have tried eight different starting quarterbacks and made a total of 14 different in-season quarterback changes.
The most recent came Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium, where Carson Wentz -- starting in place of the injured Kyler Murray -- produced the Vikings' worst game by a starting quarterback since 2006. The Vikings have lost consecutive games after a 6-0 start and their decision-makers did not want to waste what has been an elite-level defense and special teams performance this season with poor quarterback play.
In Las Vegas, the door is now wide open for Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick of the 2026 NFL draft, to step into his role as the long-term franchise quarterback.
ESPN Vikings reporter Kevin Seifert, Raiders reporter Ryan McFadden, National reporter Jeremy Fowler and fantasy's Michael Florio take a closer look at the questions and issues involved.
What's a realistic expectation for the Vikings' offense with Cousins at QB?
The offense under coach Kevin O'Connell has been tough for quarterbacks of all experience levels to master, and Cousins talked often in 2022 about his struggles to feel comfortable in it. But by the middle of the 2023 season, Cousins was playing better than he ever had in a Minnesota uniform. He led the NFL with 18 touchdown passes over eight games and had a 64 QBR. All of which goes to say that if he can pick up where he left off, the Vikings could soon resurrect their dormant passing offense. But it's only natural to expect Cousins to need some time to adjust after three years away, and it also might be a generous assumption that the quarterback position is the only cause of their issues this season. It's only fair to say that playcalling, pass protection and run game efficiency have also contributed. -- Seifert
If Cousins isn't able to ignite the Vikings' offense, what does it mean for Kevin O'Connell's future in Minnesota?
If that is the outcome, and the Vikings miss the playoffs following a 6-0 start, there won't be many people left to blame. Owners Zygi and Mark Wilf have already fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, whom they hired alongside O'Connell in 2022. O'Connell reports directly to the Wilfs, not to new general manager Nolan Teasley, but the Vikings' offensive collapse now goes all the way back to the start of the 2025 season. If he can't make it work with Cousins -- and to be fair it's far from easy to integrate a new starting quarterback in midseason -- then O'Connell's future will at the very least come under heavy offseason scrutiny. The Wilfs love the locker room culture O'Connell has created with his empathetic personality, but his specialty on the field -- offense, in particular the passing game -- has been substandard for an extended period of time. -- Seifert
What should we expect from No.1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza?
Despite not playing in games, the Raiders have been pleased with the progress that Mendoza made behind the scenes. Quarterback coach Mike Sullivan has praised Mendoza for developing stronger command of the offense. He noticed Mendoza's command and how the game slowed down for him during his debut against the Patriots in Week 5.
Sure, Mendoza (nor Aidan O'Connell) don't have the experience that Cousins possessed. But the reigning Heisman Trophy winner has a stronger arm than Cousins. On top of that, Mendoza has better mobility, which will be helpful on bootleg plays. Mendoza will not be perfect and patience will be required, especially in the first few weeks as the starter. It does help that he has the best tight end room in the league with Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, and the offensive line has been fairly solid in pass protection. Mendoza taking over will be a perfect time for the Raiders to fix their run game to better support the rookie. -- McFadden
What does this trade mean for the fantasy value of players in Minnesota and Las Vegas?
The biggest winner of this trade is wide receiver Justin Jefferson. He has averaged a career-low 56.1 receiving yards per game this season, after averaging 61.6 per game in 2025. In his four seasons with Cousins, Jefferson averaged 98 yards per game and had a 17-game pace of 1,671 yards and 8.5 touchdowns. He remains a must-start fantasy option and could once again reach elite status with Cousins, especially since the Vikings have the seventh-best remaining WR schedule.
Cousins had been enjoying a resurgence in Vegas this season, averaging 19.1 fantasy points per game and is currently the QB5 in total points. Perhaps there is a ramp-up period as he adjusts to a new team, but Cousins knows O'Connell's system well. Expect Cousins to hold similar fantasy value with the Vikings as he did with the Raiders, in the low-end QB1/high-end QB2 range.
As for the Raiders, while Mendoza is very talented, a change to a rookie QB always adds some volatility. He is worth adding off the waiver wire for QB-needy teams, as there will be games when Mendoza has to throw a lot due to the Raiders' defense.
Tight end Brock Bowers remains a must-start option and should continue to be the focal point of the Raiders' passing attack. Ashton Jeanty has been trending down, but he still remains in play as an RB2 due to his pass game usage. I anticipate Mendoza will continue to dump the ball off at a high rate.
As for the Raiders' secondary fantasy options -- WR Tre Tucker and TE Michael Mayer -- it is best to get away from them for the time being. Perhaps Mendoza can keep all these options afloat like Cousins did, but those are high expectations for a rookie. -- Florio
Did the Vikings explore other options, or was it all Cousins?
The Vikings did explore their options, but they had a pretty good feeling all roads would lead them to Cousins. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones was in the mix, but sources believed he was more of a backup option to Cousins. Minnesota was linked to New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith, even if through a basic inquiry. The Jets had no interest in moving on from Smith, who was on the Vikings' radar back in March. It's possible the Vikings made other calls as they scanned the quarterback landscape, but acquiring Cousins, given his history in Minnesota and the reasonable price tag, always made the most sense. -- Fowler
How well-liked does Cousins remain in the Vikings building after leaving three years ago?
On a personal level, Cousins was loved within the Vikings' practice building by the end of his tenure. He had a much better personal relationship with O'Connell than he did with former coach Mike Zimmer, and teammates gleefully helped create the "Kirko Chains" alter ego by egging on Cousins to take off his shirt and wear jewelry on team flights. When he returned to U.S. Bank Stadium in 2024 as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, a long line of well-wishers waited in a makeshift receiving line to embrace him after the game. On the field, the Vikings were willing to let Cousins move on in free agency because they hoped to elevate the position in a way that could help them compete better in the playoffs. What they found, however, is that the grass is not always greener on the other side. -- Seifert
What does this trade mean for Las Vegas' playoff hopes -- and Minnesota's NFC North chances?
Raiders: Yes, the Raiders are still in the hunt. But the roster has too many flaws to keep it up. They have been one of the worst defenses in the league, allowing 30-plus in six straight weeks, while they have struggled running the ball. Even if Cousins stayed, it would've been challenging to stay in the playoff mix, especially with upcoming matchups against Seattle and Denver. Still, Mendoza is given an opportunity to keep the Raiders in the postseason discussion despite it seeming like a tall task. Las Vegas' schedule after its Week 13 bye is favorable (Chargers, Broncos, Titans, Cardinals, Chiefs), meaning it could be in position for a late-season run at a wild-card spot if it can pull off one to two wins in the next three weeks. However, the Raiders understood the reality of their situation from the beginning. Their goal is to make a serious postseason push in 2027 and beyond. -- McFadden
Vikings: This trade is best viewed as a way to keep the Vikings in the fight in the NFC North, the NFL's deepest division. Cousins at 38 is no miracle worker, and the Vikings (6-2) face a daunting schedule against the Packers (6-3) and then the San Francisco 49ers (7-1) next week in Mexico City. But without competitive quarterback play, which they were not getting from Wentz or Murray, they were in position to collapse from their 6-0 start. Their chances of at least making the playoffs appear substantially higher. -- Seifert