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Kirk Cousins Returns to Vikings in Deadline Day Blockbuster as Raiders Turn to Fernando Mendoza

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

Kirk Cousins of the Las Vegas Raiders, Oct. 25, 2026

Kirk Cousins is headed back to Minnesota. The Vikings announced Tuesday that they have acquired the four time Pro Bowl quarterback from the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2027 third round draft pick, in the headline deal of the NFL trade deadline. The trade is contingent on Cousins passing a physical.

Cousins, 38, spent six seasons in Minnesota from 2018 through 2023 and now reunites with head coach Kevin O’Connell, who coached him during his final two seasons with the Vikings, including a 13-4 NFC North title season in 2022 when Cousins threw for 4,547 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also reunites with wide receiver Justin Jefferson, his top target from that run.

The move comes one day after Minnesota’s offense stalled again in a 23-6 home loss to Buffalo on Monday night, the third time this season the Vikings have been held without a touchdown. Carson Wentz completed just 8 of 25 passes for 81 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble in that game, and Minnesota’s quarterback room has also been dealing with injury. The Vikings are 6-2 and second in the NFC North, and the trade is a clear win now move to protect a promising season.

Cousins arrives in form. Starting all nine games for Las Vegas this season as the veteran mentor to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, he completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, and the Raiders went 4-5 in his starts. With the trade, Las Vegas turns its offense over to Mendoza, who is in line to make his first start on Sunday against Seattle.

Cousins could make his second Vikings debut on Sunday, November 15, at Green Bay, the same Lambeau Field where his first Minnesota stint ended with a torn Achilles on October 29, 2023. The Vikings have not yet announced their starting quarterback for that game.

The Cousins deal headlined a busy deadline day, the fifth deal completed on Tuesday. Kansas City acquired wide receiver Josh Downs and a 2027 seventh round pick from Indianapolis for 2027 fourth and fifth round picks. Buffalo acquired safety Amani Hooker and a 2027 fifth round pick from Tennessee for a 2027 second round pick. San Francisco acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen from Indianapolis for a 2027 sixth round pick. Denver acquired linebacker Daiyan Henley from the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2027 fourth round pick and a 2028 fifth round pick. Baltimore acquired center Ryan Neuzil from Atlanta for guard Andrew Vorhees and a 2028 sixth round pick. An agreed deal that would have sent Philadelphia edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie to Cincinnati was called off.

Those deals followed a big Monday for Jacksonville, which acquired defensive tackle Jordan Davis from Philadelphia for a 2027 first round pick and a 2029 second round pick, and also added safety Jessie Bates III from Atlanta and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from New Orleans. In all, 18 trades were completed across the league since the start of the regular season.

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Ravens Say Lamar Jackson’s Broken, Dislocated Thumb Typically Takes 6-10 Weeks to Heal

The Baltimore Ravens said Friday that Lamar Jackson’s broken and dislocated throwing thumb required surgery and that injuries like it typically take about six to 10 weeks to heal.

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2026

We Speak Media

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on the sideline (Baltimore Ravens)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. (Baltimore Ravens)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is recovering from a broken and dislocated thumb that required surgery, and injuries of that kind typically take about six to 10 weeks to heal, head coach Jesse Minter said in a statement released by the team on Friday.

“Lamar is doing well as he recovers from the broken and dislocated thumb injury he suffered in Week 8,” Minter said. “Recovery timelines are challenging to predict, but injuries like this that require surgery typically take about 6-10 weeks to heal. He is doing everything he can to get back, and we will let his progress guide the timing of his return. We are committed to playing our best football over the second half of the season.”

Friday’s statement is the team’s first official diagnosis and timeline for the injury, which Jackson suffered on the Ravens’ first offensive play at Buffalo on Nov. 1 in his return from a three-game ankle absence. He was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 1 and has not played since. ESPN reported that Jackson has undergone the surgery.

Backup Tyler Huntley was also ruled out for the Ravens’ Nov. 5 game against Jacksonville with turf toe, and Baltimore has turned to Jacoby Brissett, acquired from Arizona, at quarterback. The Ravens are 4-5 after Thursday’s 33-10 loss to the Jaguars.

Lamar Jackson to Undergo Thumb Surgery, Headed to Injured Reserve

Kirk Cousins Returns to Vikings in Deadline Day Blockbuster as Raiders Turn to Fernando Mendoza