Kirk Cousins waves as he arrives at the Vikings’ facility, Nov. 11, 2026. Photo by Minnesota Vikings, resized.One trade, two quarterbacks: Kirk Cousins goes back to Lambeau and Fernando Mendoza takes over the Raiders, step by step
Kirk Cousins at his news conference in Eagan, Nov. 11, 2026. Image by Minnesota Vikings, resized.Tuesday morning
On Tuesday, Nov. 10, the day of the trade deadline, Minnesota sent its own 2027 third-round pick to Las Vegas for Kirk Cousins. It was the morning after the Vikings’ 23-6 Monday night loss to Buffalo.
Cousins, 38, started 88 regular-season games for Minnesota from 2018 to 2023. He had not had a bye yet this season, and the Vikings already have, so he could play 18 regular-season games in 2026.
“I was about halfway into my eggs and my phone started vibrating and it said Klint Kubiak on it.”— Kirk Cousins, on Wednesday in Eagan
Kirk Cousins at a Raiders news conference during Week 7, Oct. 21, 2026. Image by Las Vegas Raiders (video still), cropped and resized.Nine games in Las Vegas
Cousins joined the Raiders this offseason to play for Kubiak, and the offense worked. Las Vegas scored 26.4 points a game, eighth in the league, and he threw three touchdown passes in each of the first three games, all wins.
The defense did not hold up. The Raiders have allowed 29.8 points a game, the most in the NFL, and lost five of their next six.
Cousins’ passing yards, Weeks 1-9
“There’s no denying Kirk played really good football, and he’s a big reason why we’re sitting here with four wins through nine games.”— Raiders general manager John Spytek
Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson at Washington, Nov. 6, 2022, in the Vikings’ 13-4 season. Photo by All-Pro Reels, resized.Six seasons in purple
Cousins first came to Minnesota as a free agent in 2018. In six seasons he went 50-37-1 as the starter, threw for more than 4,000 yards four times and won 13 games in 2022.
His one playoff win for the Vikings came in overtime in New Orleans, 26-20, in January 2020.
Touchdown passes with Minnesota
Lambeau Field in Green Bay, November 2019. Photo by Chad Davis, resized.Lambeau, again
His last game as a Viking was at Green Bay on Oct. 29, 2023. Minnesota won 24-10, but Cousins tore his Achilles and was carted off. He spent the next two seasons in Atlanta.
As Minnesota’s starter he went 5-4-1 against the Packers, and 2-2-1 at Lambeau Field.
- 29-29 tie in overtime. Cousins throws for 425 yards and four touchdowns in his first Lambeau game as a Viking.
- Packers 21, Vikings 16. He goes 14 of 32 with two interceptions.
- Vikings 28, Packers 22. He throws only 14 passes.
- Packers 41, Vikings 17. Three interceptions.
- Vikings 24, Packers 10. He tears his Achilles in the win.
“Knowing that that was where I was carted off and had thoughts of, is this my last game? Is this my last game as a Viking? To be back there wearing the purple and gold, it has meaning.”— Kirk Cousins
Vikings defenders bring down James Cook (4) during the 23-6 loss to Buffalo, Nov. 9, 2026. Photo by Minnesota Vikings, cropped and resized.The team he joins
The 2026 Vikings are 6-2 on defense. They have allowed 14.5 points a game, the fewest in the league, and scored only 18.2, 27th.
Kyler Murray started six of the eight games and is out with a hamstring injury. J.J. McCarthy was traded to the Giants on Sept. 28. Against Buffalo, Carson Wentz went 8 of 25 for 81 yards with two interceptions.
Passing touchdowns in 2026
Passing yards per game
“Kevin knows me. Kevin knows what I do well. Kevin knows what I don’t do well.”— Kirk Cousins, on Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell
Fernando Mendoza in the Raiders’ starting-quarterback announcement, Nov. 10, 2026. Image by Las Vegas Raiders, cropped and resized.The No. 1 pick
In Las Vegas, the job goes to Fernando Mendoza. He won the Heisman Trophy and the national championship in his only season at Indiana, which went 16-0, after transferring from Cal.
The Raiders took him first overall in April. He has thrown eight NFL passes, all on one series late in the loss at New England, completing six for 48 yards.
Mendoza’s college touchdown passes
- Indiana beats Ohio State 13-10 for the Big Ten title.
- Indiana 38, Alabama 3, in the playoff quarterfinals.
- Indiana 56, Oregon 22, in the semifinals.
- Indiana 27, Miami 21, for the national title.
Raiders general manager John Spytek and coach Klint Kubiak at their news conference, Nov. 10, 2026. Image by Las Vegas Raiders, resized.Sunday
Both quarterbacks could debut on the same afternoon. Minnesota, tied with Detroit at 6-2 behind 7-2 Chicago, plays at 6-3 Green Bay. Las Vegas, 4-5, hosts the defending champion Seahawks.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who coached Cousins in Washington, expects to see him on Sunday. The Vikings had not committed by Wednesday.
- Vikings at Packers, Lambeau Field (8 p.m. Cairo).
- Seahawks at Raiders, Allegiant Stadium (11:05 p.m. Cairo). Mendoza’s first start.
“He’ll be starting. I’m fairly confident of that. I was surprised they didn’t get more. I was shocked what they traded him for.”— Packers coach Matt LaFleur
“I anticipate it being a transition. We’re going to find out together.”— Raiders coach Klint Kubiak, on Mendoza
Twenty touchdown passes, one third-round pick. The Vikings bought the NFL’s second-leading touchdown passer for a team that has thrown eight. The Raiders handed the offense to a 16-0 Heisman winner who has thrown eight NFL passes.
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