Vikings Fear Kirk Cousins Suffered Torn Achilles in Win Over Packers, Head Coach Says
Kirk Cousins, the reliable quarterback who led the Minnesota Vikings to victory after a poor start to the season, may now be sidelined due to a potential Achilles tendon injury. Cousins threw two touchdown passes before leaving the fourth quarter of the Vikings’ 24-10 win against the struggling Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Following the game, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell expressed concern about Cousins’ injury, stating that they are fearing an Achilles injury. However, the severity of the injury is still under evaluation. This comes as a significant blow to Cousins, who has never missed a game due to injury throughout his 12-year career.
During the game, Cousins walked gingerly to the sideline after getting sacked on consecutive plays in the fourth quarter, indicating that the injury might have occurred before any contact was made. O’Connell mentioned that it seemed like Cousins’ cleat might have gotten stuck in the ground, but did not want to speculate further.
With Cousins potentially out, the Vikings are faced with limited quarterback options. Jaren Hall, a rookie fifth-round pick from BYU, took over for the rest of the game, while Nick Mullens, a quarterback with 17 starts, is currently on injured reserve with a back injury.
Despite the setback, the Vikings have shown promise with their recent winning streak, bringing them back to a .500 record and reigniting hopes of contending for a playoff spot. However, Cousins’ injury now puts those aspirations in jeopardy.
The Vikings’ victory against the Packers was highlighted by touchdown receptions from T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison, as well as a touchdown run by Cam Akers. Cousins played a crucial role in leading the team, going 23 of 31 for 274 yards with two touchdown passes.
On the other side, the Packers continued their struggles, losing their fourth straight game and displaying a pattern of slow starts. They have been outscored 73-9 in the first half of their past five games and have yet to score a touchdown before halftime.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur described the game as tough to watch due to the numerous mistakes made by the team. Green Bay’s offense failed to capitalize on opportunities, and they lost the ball on downs during their last three drives.
Looking ahead, the Vikings will face the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday, while the Packers will host the Los Angeles Rams.
Note: The article has been edited for length and clarity while keeping the HTML tags intact.