Injuries have been a huge problem for many teams during the 2025 NFL season. The Minnesota Vikings aren't the only team dealing with important players missing time, forcing backups into the starting lineup.
For the Atlanta Falcons, starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is dealing with a bone bruise to his knee. That injury is expected to sideline the second-year passer, paving the way for his backup to get the start in Week 8.
Behind Penix on the depth chart, the Falcons have former Vikings QB Kirk Cousins as the primary backup. The team also has Easton Stick on the practice squad and could elevate him to the 53-man roster for Sunday's game.
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected to start at quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins.
According to NFL insider Adam Schefter on X, the Atlanta Falcons are 'highly likely' to start former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins in Week 8. Atlanta has a 3-3 record this season and hopes to stay in the hunt in the NFC South with the 5-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 4-3 Carolina Panthers ahead of them.
ESPN Sources: Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is “highly likely” to start Sunday’s game vs. the Dolphins as Michael Penix recovers from a bone bruise to his knee.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 25, 2025
Penix was limited at practice all week and Cousins worked with the first-team offense, gearing up to start Sunday. pic.twitter.com/790BrBoTBe
The Vikings played their Week 8 game on Thursday Night Football in an ugly blowout loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. This allows fans of Minnesota to watch Kirk Cousins in the early window on Sunday.
Cousins entered last week's game against the Panthers, where he completed five of his seven pass attempts for 29 yards. Otherwise, he hasn't started a game since Week 14 last season against the Las Vegas Raiders.
This could be an interesting opportunity for the Falcons to showcase Cousins before the NFL trade deadline on November 4. Atlanta might see more interest in a trade partner if the former Vikings QB can have a solid game against a struggling Dolphins squad.
Multiple teams could use help at quarterback this season. However, the price tag associated with Kirk Cousins is a bit rich for many franchises to absorb. If Atlanta is willing to take on a large percentage of the passer's salary cap hit and he has a good game against Miami, it is more likely that a deal could get done.
Although the Minnesota Vikings are in a tough spot with their current quarterback situation, it wouldn't make a lot of sense for them to trade for Cousins. The purple and gold still need to see what they have in young quarterback J.J. McCarthy before they should start exploring other, more expensive options.