The Minnesota Vikings made the move they needed to at the trade deadline when they reacquired QB Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders. After the Vikings had endured two brutal offensive performances against the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills because neither Kyler Murray nor Carson Wentz could get the ball to open Vikings receivers, a third-round draft choice was sent to the Raiders in exchange for Cousins.
#Vikings S Jakobe Thomas didn’t charge Kirk Cousins for his number, letting Kirk go back to his number for free:
“I just want him to come here and help us win…. Kirko’s got a lot more memories and history in that number than I do, and it’s rightfully his.” pic.twitter.com/yJG5ts4oPE
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) November 13, 2026
After the deal was made, there was a question about what uniform number Cousins would wear in his return to the Vikings and U.S. Bank Stadium. He had worn No. 8 while playing quarterback for the Vikings from 2018 through 2023, but that number had been given to rookie defensive back Jakobe Thomas.
The rookie did not waste any time in giving the number to Cousins and taking No. 6 as his own jersey. While it was highly anticipated that Thomas might work out a financial deal that worked in his favor to give Cousins back the number he had worn with the Vikings — and was wearing with the Raiders when he was traded — Thomas did not ask for any kind of pay off to make the deal.
Thomas said his motivation was to help Cousins because of what he could do for the team. “I just want him to come here and help us win,” Thomas said, per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com.
Cousins and the Vikings will be tested in Week 10 when they go to Lambeau Field to take on the Packers. Green Bay is coming off a 45-27 road triumph over the New England Patriots.
The Vikings are hoping that Cousins can do enough on offense in his first game back with the Vikings to keep the Packers from building a huge time of possession edge.