Vikings' Big Win Over Packers Overshadowed By Kirk Cousins Injury News
The Vikings cruised to a 24-10 victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday. It's their third consecutive win, bringing them to 4-4 on the season after an 0-3 start.
Somehow, that doesn't feel particularly important right now.
Completely overshadowing Minnesota's big rivalry victory is the status of starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, who exited in the fourth quarter with what the team described as an ankle injury. On replay, it sure looks like an Achilles injury similar to the one Aaron Rodgers suffered in the Jets' season opener.
If Cousins is out for the year, that would completely change the trajectory and outlook of the Vikings' season. They'd go from a team on the rise to a team without a QB. For what it's worth, the trade deadline is on Tuesday.
Cousins was surgical prior to his injury, competing 23 of 31 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns. He hit T.J. Hockenson for a score in the third quarter, then found Jordan Addison for the rookie's seventh touchdown in eight games just a couple minutes later. In between, Josh Metellus made an incredible play for an interception and return that set the Vikings up with great field position.
The Vikings were up 24-3 after those two TDs, and they held on for a win that extended the Packers' losing streak to four games. Back in the first quarter, Cam Akers got the Vikings on the board with their first rushing touchdown of the entire season.
This was a dreadful showing from the home team. The Packers were anemic on offense, did very little to stop Cousins, and committed a whopping 11 penalties. The Vikings struggled to run the football, but it didn't matter because Hockenson, Addison, and K.J. Osborn all had at least six catches and at least 82 receiving yards. Brian Flores' defense finished with four sacks, including Danielle Hunter's tenth of the year and two from D.J. Wonnum.
This should've been a win that the Vikings could celebrate and be excited about. Instead, it's hard to do anything but think about Cousins and his future.
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