Let’s rewind to April. Precisely, just weeks before the draft chaos, when the idea of a Kirk Cousins return to Minnesota wasn’t actually a football fodder. It was whispered, then tweeted, then discussed as a viable Plan B. Because Kirk’s not happy in Atlanta, now, that Raheem Morris might favor Michael Penix Jr. as a QB1. The 37-year-old QB wants to be the guy and not a mentor before he hangs up his cleats. “I didn’t forget how to play quarterback,” Kirk said after Raheem benched him, as he threw for 16 picks, in favor of the rookie.

So, if that was the reason for Kirk not to see himself retire as a Falcon anymore, then, many said, why would he return to Minnesota when Kevin O’Connell‘s clear plans are around JJ McCarthy? Fair enough. But crazier things have happened in the league before. Plus, with the only other interest coming from the Steelers, who seem keen on Aaron Rodgers (per reports, they have shaken hands), Kirk doesn’t have any options left for him.

Guess that’s why, thanks to Dianna Russini’s fresh reporting, those whispers are starting to echo again. The Athletic’s insider lit the match: “Could the Vikings decide J.J. McCarthy needs more time… and opt for a reunion with Cousins?” In classic NFL fashion, the most boring scenario (Kirk stays QB2 in Atlanta) might still flip. In this hypothetical that keeps on gaining traction, Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings look at the rookie they just drafted—McCarthy, coming off a meniscus injury—and decide maybe the timing’s off.

Maybe they don’t want to rush him. And maybe, just maybe, the guy who already knows the system and built chemistry with Justin Jefferson is worth a call. ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed the Vikings are out on Joe Flacco (gone to Cleveland). Josh Johnson? Gone. If Minnesota really wanted a “just in case” vet, they’ve had chances. Instead, the veteran market has dried up. That changes the tone. And Dianna’s not guessing, she’s hinting at real movement.

So let’s pretend for a second they have buried the grudges, and jersey numbers don’t matter. Sam Howell was just handed No. 8—Kirk’s old number in Minnesota. Symbolic, maybe. But not necessarily a closed door. As silly as it sounds, NFL teams get sentimental. If McCarthy’s knee flares up during camp or looks shaky in preseason, Kevin O’Connell might not hesitate. After all, he knows precisely what Cousins brings. Call it insurance, call it leverage—either way, the idea isn’t as far-fetched as it looked two weeks ago.

From a football ops perspective, the math works. Albert Breer noted it wouldn’t take much—maybe a 2026 late-round pick—to pry Kirk Cousins out of Atlanta. Minnesota checks both boxes. The Cousins’ situation is “likely far from resolved,” Russini wrote. And in the NFL, unresolved situations tend to find their way back into headlines.

JJ McCarthy’s warning window has begun

Alright, let’s get into it because the Vikings’ quarterback room is a storyline that feels like it’s straight out of a “Hard Knocks” spinoff. A year ago, JJ McCarthy was supposed to be the guy. Kevin O’Connell’s project. Minnesota’s future. But then, boom—knee injury in the preseason. Out. Redshirted rookie year before he even got the jersey sweat-stained. And now? Now he’s back. And he’s on the clock.

McCarthy enters 2025 as QB1 on paper. That’s the plan. But this is the NFL—plans are pencil, not pen. He’s got a year of clipboard study, a loaded offense with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson, plus a reliable run game in Aaron Jones. On paper, again, it’s a quarterback’s dream. But that dream isn’t shared league-wide. In fact, some execs are already eyeing the “next Sam Darnold” storyline. Yeah. That’s a real quote.

“You know what is going to happen? JJ is going to get banged up, and Howell is going to walk in there and become the next Sam Darnold,” one anonymous exec told The Athletic. That’s not a light critique. That’s someone doubting McCarthy’s durability and leadership—before the season even kicks off. The Darnold shadow looms large, too. He won 14 games for the Vikings last year. That’s not an easy act to follow.

Of course, not everyone in the league is buying that narrative. Another exec fired back: “There’s no comparison. JJ will be really good, and the coach will make sure he is good.” That’s more than a vote of confidence. That’s an endorsement of McCarthy’s talent and O’Connell’s system. And to be fair, the system did turn Darnold’s reputation around like a halftime comeback.

Bottom line? JJ’s not walking into some rebuilding chaos. He’s stepping into a playoff-ready machine with the expectations turned up louder than a home opener at U.S. Bank Stadium. And the warning’s already flashing: this isn’t a development year. It’s a prove it year.