Tuesday 10 November 2026 20:33, UK

The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly re-signed quarterback Kirk Cousins in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders in order to improve their offence.

Cousins spent six years with the Vikings from 2018-2023 before he left to join the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent in 2024.

The Vikings have since struggled to find a replacement for him and have eight quarterbacks start since his move.

It means that the 2026 No 1 pick Carlos Mendoza will now be the starting quarterback for the Raiders and the Las Vegas outfit have also received a 2027 third-round pick for the trade.

The Vikings had an extra third-round selection from Philadelphia in a swap they made in April for edge rusher Jonathan Greenard.

The deal comes less than 24 hours after a dire performance for Carson Wentz as he put in the worst performance by a quarterback at the franchise since 2006 in the absence of usual starter Kyler Murray, who is out with a hamstring injury. Not only that, the Vikings are on a losing run after a 6-2 start.

Wentz was 8 for 25 for 81 yards, two interceptions and a lost fumble from a badly overthrown swing pass to Justin Jefferson in the first quarter that went backward for a live ball. With Wentz hobbling on an ankle injury and the offense going nowhere, Max Brosmer took over midway through the fourth quarter of the 23-6 loss.

Cousins had some of his best performances with the Vikings while helping them win 13 games in 2022 in coach Kevin O'Connell's first season, and he was playing even better in 2023 when he tore his Achilles tendon during a game at Green Bay in Week 8.

Now, the Vikings have made a major move to try to keep their season on track with a dominant defence and plenty of capable pieces on offense around the quarterback.