Following his trade from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the Tuesday deadline, veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has the opportunity to achieve a rare piece of NFL history.
Chasing an 18-Game Season
Because Cousins did not have a bye week during his time with the Raiders, and the Vikings had already completed their bye week, the 38-year-old quarterback could become the first player at his position to participate in 18 games during a single campaign if he plays in all of Minnesota’s remaining nine games.
Four different players have managed to appear in 18 games in a single season since the league shifted to a 17-game schedule in 2021. Additionally, Jessie Bates could potentially join this exclusive group following his recent trade to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Return to Minnesota
Prior to the trade, Cousins recorded 2,340 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while guiding the Raiders to a 4-5 record. He now joins a Minnesota squad that dropped to a 6-2 record after suffering a 23-6 defeat against the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.
The Vikings have recently played without starting quarterback Kyler Murray due to a hamstring injury, while veteran backup Carson Wentz struggled to stabilize the team in his absence. Having spent six seasons in Minnesota previously—where he secured three of his four career Pro Bowl nods—Cousins will look to regain his former form as the franchise pursues a postseason berth this year. His debut back with the team is set for Sunday against the 6-3 Green Bay Packers.
