Kirk Cousins undergoes successful Achilles surgery, Minnesota Vikings announce
MINNEAPOLIS — Kirk Cousins' surgery to repair his torn Achilles tendon was successful Wednesday morning, the Minnesota Vikings announced.
Cousins underwent the surgery at Twin Cities Orthopedics. The team placed him on injured reserve Tuesday and he is expected to miss the rest of the season.
The 35-year-old quarterback was playing some of the best football of his career before tearing his Achilles tendon in Sunday's win over the Green Bay Packers. Now, with his contract set to expire after this season, his future with the Vikings is in doubt. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was asked Wednesday if he wants Cousins back with the Vikings next year.
"Kirk played great [before the injury]," Adofo-Mensah said. "I think my want for Kirk to come back isn't just a me, it isn't just a me thing, it's a negotiation."
Adofo-Mensah added that he's confident in Cousins' recovery.
"His process makes him younger," Adofo-Mensah said. "I don't think he's a normal 35-year-old."
In the short-term, the Vikings plan to hand the reins to fifth-round rookie Jaren Hall. Hall relieved Cousins late in Sunday's game and did enough to preserve the win. He fumbled on his third play from scrimmage, but also converted a key third down by staying calm in the pocket and finding T.J. Hockenson.
"Just playing on Sunday in itself was surreal," Hall said Wednesday. "Just being a part of this is a good opportunity ... I'm really just focused on being as prepared as I can for these guys because they've grinded so much the last few weeks and come back from so much adversity that I just want to do my best and just focus on this game."
"I believe a lot in Jaren Hall," Adofo-Mensah said. "I think he's a really good player."
The Vikings also traded for Arizona Cardinals QB Josh Dobbs on Tuesday. Dobbs, who started the Cardinals' first eight games with Kyler Murray injured, provides an insurance option should Hall struggle or get injured. Nick Mullens, who backed up Cousins last year, is on injured reserve for at least one more game.
Despite Cousins' injury, the Vikings aren't ready to give up on the season. They weren't big sellers at the trade deadline, only sending away former starting guard Ezra Cleveland. Cleveland had been injured and his replacement, midseason signing Dalton Risner, proved more than capable in his absence. At 4-4 after a three-game winning streak, the Vikings are firmly in the hunt for the playoffs and possible even the NFC North, which is currently led by the 6-2 Detroit Lions.
Note: The video above aired before Cousins' surgery.
