newsweek
Kirk Cousins is set to start at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings for the first time since the 2023 season, but he will be without one of his most familiar targets. Wide receiver Jordan Addison was listed among the team's inactive players on Sunday, just before Cousins' return to the lineup against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Addison had been questionable throughout the week due to a thumb injury and was added to the injury report on Friday as a limited participant. His absence is a blow to a reunion that Addison had looked forward to. In his first eight NFL games with Cousins in 2023, Addison recorded 36 receptions for 482 yards and seven touchdowns before Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.
"It felt like he never left," Addison said of practicing with Cousins this week, according to the team's website. "The chemistry is still there." Now, Minnesota must find other options to fill those opportunities.
The Vikings had already ruled out wide receiver Jauan Jennings (calf) and tight end T.J. Hockenson (wrist and chest injuries) for the game. To bolster the receiving corps, the team elevated wide receiver Jeshaun Jones and tight end Devin Culp from the practice squad on Saturday. Jones has appeared in two games this season, contributing on special teams, and recorded his first NFL reception—a 32-yard gain—against the New Orleans Saints. Culp joined the practice squad in late October after beginning his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will provide depth alongside tight ends Gavin Bartholomew and Ben Yurosek.
Head coach Kevin O'Connell named Cousins the starter on Friday, and Sunday's inactive list confirmed Carson Wentz as the backup, with Max Brosmer designated as the third quarterback. The Vikings enter the matchup with a 6-2 record and face the 6-3 Packers in the second meeting between the teams this season. Kickoff is scheduled for noon Central.
Key Analysis
Cousins' return is a significant moment for the Vikings, but the absence of Addison, Jennings, and Hockenson severely limits the team's passing attack. Addison's chemistry with Cousins was evident in their brief time together, and his loss forces Minnesota to rely on less experienced options. The elevations of Jones and Culp add depth, but the Vikings will need Justin Jefferson and others to step up against a formidable Packers defense. The game will test Cousins' ability to adapt and the coaching staff's creativity in overcoming these injuries.
Originally reported by newsweek.