Like many football coaches, Minnesota Vikings HC Mike Zimmer was not totally forthcoming when asked whether Kirk Cousins is playing in the third preseason game. However, he did say that the third preseason game will look a lot like the second, so it’s safe to make a few assumptions about Friday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Is Kirk Cousins playing tonight?
Yes, the signs tell us that Cousins is playing alongside other starters Friday. He played in the most recent preseason game against the Colts. In that contest, Cousins went 5/7 for 23 yards. There were a few bootleg throws off fake tosses to get his game going. However, his legs appeared more warmed up than his arm because Cousins and the offense didn’t even dream of pushing the ball downfield while he was in the game.
Cousins doesn’t need the work. Four drives in two preseason games with a mixed-up offensive roster against a mixed-up defensive roster in a meaningless game wouldn’t knock the rust off if there were any. He’s a 10-year veteran now, and he doesn’t have a history of starting seasons off slow.
Cousins is 47/71 in his previous three season openers and has averaged nearly 8.5 yards per attempt in that time. Additionally, he’s thrown 5 touchdowns to only 1 interception in those three years. The Vikings shouldn’t have too many issues moving the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1.
Epidemiologists and Everson Griffen
It’s impossible to skirt around the vaccination status of Cousins and the rest of the Vikings. Currently, they have the lowest vaccination rate of any NFL team. Whether one agrees with the protocols in place is of no concern. No matter which way it’s sliced, the Vikings are at a competitive disadvantage.
This week, the Vikings brought in Michael Osterholm, the infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota. He spoke with the players to help inform them about the disease, hoping they’d change their minds about getting the vaccine. There’s no word yet on if it worked.
Everson Griffen returns to the Vikings after he made some on-brand tweets aimed at his former (and now current) quarterback. Griffen never minces words in interviews or on social media. In January, he tweeted at the Vikings, calling Cousins “ass” and followed it up with “ask ZIMMER if he wanted Kirk???”
Cousins said they spoke about it back in January and that it’s water under the bridge now. Griffen has since apologized publicly about this brief Twitter tirade.
