Latest Vikings News is 2 Steps Forward, 1 Step Back

Well, it’s official: Kirk Cousins is the starter in Week 10 ( as expected).

The Details

The top Vikings news from the day was the mere corroboration of what has been expected since Tuesday: “Head Coach Kevin O’Connell has announced that QB Kirk Cousins will start Sunday at Green Bay.” Getting Mr. Cousins into the mix likely represents a pair of steps forward since he’ll be an improvement at quarterback while Justin Jefferson gets a shot to shine. Who doesn’t like a two-for-one deal?

More discouraging, though, is that the injury report is ample.

Consider the update from the team itself: “The #Vikings final Week 10 injury report. OUT: LB Blake Cashman, TE T.J. Hockenson, DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, WR Jauan Jennings and QB Kyler Murray; QUESTIONABLE: WR Jordan Addison (thumb), S Joshua Metellus (shoulder) and OLB Kyle Van Noy.”

Vikings News a Mix of Good and Bad

Right now, the infirmary is a popular spot. That’s a tough outcome moving into a pivotal Week 10 game.

In particular, there’s the absence of LB1 Blake Cashman. He’s a stud in essentially all facets of football. Maybe his most impressive ability has nothing to do with tackling. Where he can shine is as a thinker of the game, somebody who corrals and communicates the call.

Every so often, DC Brian Flores is slow getting the play called. In these moments, Cashman has recognized what’s going on before then making the decision himself. He thinks the game as a high level, so he’ll be missed out there.

Look for some combination of Eric Wilson, Harrison Smith, and Josh Metellus (among a few others) to step up. As it relates to who has the green dot, Wilson is the player to watch. The elder statesman will do fine even if he’s a half-step slower than Mr. Cashman.

So, too, is it discouraging to see T.J. Hockenson needing to miss time.

The TE1 has been enjoying an excellent season in 2026. He’s perhaps the lonely skill guy to do better working alongside Kyler Murray. With Cousins, Hockenson could shine. After all, his best work in Minnesota came in the ’22 and ‘ 23 seasons, years that had Cousins at QB1 most of the time.

More broadly, the absence of guys like Ingram-Dawkins and Jennings further deplete the depth. Neither are world beaters and yet each is capable of offering sturdy football.

Since Minnesota is without its TE1, WR3, and possibly the WR2, look for Odell Beckham Jr. and/or Jeshaun Jones to get elevated from the practice squad. Doing so will ensure that Cousins has enough healthy players to throw to on Sunday afternoon.

Even with the many injury issues, it’s hard not to be optimistic about what Kirk Cousins can do under center.

As a basic minimum, Cousins is going to offer calm competence. He’ll shine working off play action and connect on the passes he’s supposed to connect on. Igniting Justin Jefferson may be enough to pull off the upset victory.

If so, then the Vikings news will start considering a team that’s capable of winning instead of tumbling further down the standings.

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• By
• K. Joudry
• Senior Editor for
• Vikings Territory
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PurplePTSD. Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.