Kevin O'Connell Says Vikings Fear Achilles Injury for Kirk Cousins

Cousins' season is almost certainly over, which changes things dramatically in Minnesota.
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Kirk Cousins' season is almost certainly over.

The Vikings' starting quarterback exited Sunday's win over the Packers in the fourth quarter with an injury that looked a lot like a torn Achilles tendon. Afterwards, head coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed that the team fears it's an Achilles injury.

Cousins is being evaluated to determine the severity of the injury, but Achilles tears are pretty straightforward. Barring some kind of miracle, he'll be out for the rest of the season.

It's the type of injury that changes everything in Minnesota. The Vikings were just getting on a roll, winning their third consecutive game behind another sharp performance from Cousins and their offense. They're back to .500 at 4-4 after an 0-3 start.

Now they're without their QB, who will be missing time due to injury for the first time in his entire NFL career. They're without their leader. They're without their most important player.

"Thinking about our quarterback," O'Connell said. "I'm just so proud of him. I'm proud of the way he's played all season long."

O'Connell said his last game ball in the locker room went to Cousins, who has meant a ton to him in his first couple years as a head coach. The 35-year-old is set to hit free agency after this season, meaning it's possible he's played his last game with the Vikings.

Rookie Jaren Hall will likely be the Vikings' starting quarterback next weekend against the Falcons. Veteran backup Nick Mullens, who has a back injury, is eligible to come off IR the following week.

The Vikings got a big rivalry win on Sunday, but it turned into a devastating day for the franchise and its immediate future.


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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.