Kirk Cousins

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has been cleared to practice after spending five days away from the team facility following his COVID-19 diagnosis, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.

Fantasy Impact

Cousins is expected to return to his normal workload immediately, which is important because the Vikings have two days of pivotal joint practices with the 49ers. The 34-year-old ranks 14th among quarterbacks in the latest ECR.

Kirk Cousins tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the first preseason game on Sunday. Additionally, Cousins left practice early on Thursday and has not practiced since.

Fantasy Impact

Cousins missing time with COVID keeps him on schedule to make a Week 1 start. Backup quarterbacks Sean Mannion and Kellen Mond will handle the snaps for the preseason game on Sunday. With a new head coach in Kevin O'Connell, many analysts expect an uptick in passing volume from Minnesota. O'Connell was the offensive coordinator for the Rams during their 2021 Super Bowl winning season. Cousins would benefit from a pass-first offense with O'Connell, compared to the run-first system of the former Mike Zimmer regime. Any uptick in passing volume would increase Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen's values, with Irv Smith Jr. and K.J. Osborn also getting bumps.

Kirk Cousins was sent home from Thursday's practice with an undisclosed illness.

Fantasy Impact

Backup QBs Sean Mannion and Kellen Mond split the snaps with the first team during Cousins' absence. The 34-year-old ended 2021 as the QB11 in total fantasy points and QB12 in points per game, but chances are high we will have to wait past this weekend's preseason opener to see how the offense may change under new head coach Kevin O'Connell.

According to PFN365 reporter Aaron Wilson, Kirk Cousins has agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Vikings.

Fantasy Impact

On Sunday, overshadowed by the return of Tom Brady after a brief 40-day retirement, Kirk Cousins and the Vikings agreed to a one-year, $35 million contract extension with the Vikings. The money on the contract is fully guaranteed and puts him under contract with the team until 2023. He will receive a raise to $40 million in 2022, $55 million payable by next March, and will contain a no-trade clause.

O'Connell and new Vikings GM Kwesi Odofo-Mensah both gave ringing endorsements for Cousins on Wednesday, during their introductory press conference.

Fantasy Impact

O'Connell worked with Cousins in Washington as the quarterbacks coach in 2017, and says he is 'excited' to get to work planning an offence around him. Odofo-Mensah echoed those statements, and confirmed his focus to build the team around the veteran signal-caller. O'Connell, who will be calling the plays in Minnesota, hopes to deploy a different offensive philosophy from previous Mike Zimmer-led run first teams. O'Connell will operate more pass-heavy, citing Cousins' accuracy as noteworthy, and said he thinks 'we can build a system like we had in LA to take advantage of that skillset' for Cousins. This could be good news for Captain Kirk and the Minnesota pass game, as the Rams, where O'Connell was OC last season, finished the year fifth in passing yards, and were very efficient throwing the ball throughout their Super Bowl run. Cousins' contract is set to expire at the end of the season.