The Minnesota Vikings suffered another huge blow to their team in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers. They won their third straight game, climbing back to the .500 mark, but it came at a cost.
Starting quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered an Achilles injury that will be season-ending. It could not have come at a worse time as Minnesota was riding some positive momentum and making a move up in the standings despite not having star wide receiver Justin Jefferson in the mix.
For Cousins, this will likely hamper how much money he can earn in the offseason as well. He was set to hit free agency with no threat of the franchise tag as likely the best available player at his position. His offseason plans will have to change drastically because of the rehab that lies ahead.
The Vikings’ plans for the remainder of the 2023 season will also be changing. Rookie fifth-round pick Jaren Hall and veteran Nick Mullens are the other quarterbacks currently on the roster.
One of them will likely start in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons, but it would not he surprising if another veteran was added to the mix. Vikings reporter Ben Gossling of The Star Tribune believes that Colt McCoy could be someone that the team targets in free agency.
“An immediate name to keep an eye on for the #Vikings is Colt McCoy, who’d spent three years with Kevin O’Connell in Washington. McCoy visited the Vikings earlier this month, and could be a fit now to join the team’s QB room,” Goessling wrote.
McCoy looked to be in line to be the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals heading into 2023, but he was part of final cuts for the team. They opted instead to roll with Joshua Dobbs as their starter. McCoy has been patiently waiting for the right opportunity since.
At 37 years old, McCoy would bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the quarterback room. He is well-traveled and a respected veteran which could help soften the blow of losing their leader, in Cousins, for the remainder of the season.
Bringing in McCoy is also a straightforward option that won’t cost the Vikings a ton. A veteran’s minimum deal would likely be enough to land him instead of having to trade draft capital to acquire another veteran off of someone’s bench.
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