Kirk Cousins placed on reserve/Covid-19 list, will miss game against Packers
Sean Mannion will get the start Sunday night.
By PackerAaron
The Minnesota Vikings placed starting quarterback Kirk Cousins on the reserve/Covid-19 list. He will miss Sunday night's game against the Packers.
The Vikings are fighting for their playoff lives, sitting at 7-8 and currently the NFC's No. 8 seed, one spot out of the playoffs.
Look for Sean Mannion to get the start against the Packers.
While this undoubtedly swings things in the Packers favor, don't forget the Vikings essentially took the ball out of Cousins' hands last year when they came into Lambeau and ran all over the Packers. Cousins attempted all of 14 passes on the way to a 28-22 Vikings victory.
Dalvin Cook was taken off the Covid reserve list earlier this week and was upgraded to a full participant in practice as of yesterday.
Green Bay should expect a healthy does of Cook on Sunday night.
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Comments (59)
Ya_tittle
December 31, 2021 at 11:52 am
Barry better BLITZ on passing downs.
GBPDAN1
December 31, 2021 at 11:56 am
Let's get this victory, and with no injuries. Go Pack!
dobber
December 31, 2021 at 12:13 pm
"don't forget the Vikings essentially took the ball out of Cousins' hands last year when they came into Lambeau and ran all over the Packers. "
My recollection was that was a wind game, was it not?
PackerAaron
December 31, 2021 at 01:33 pm
Yet the Packers kept throwing. Point being, the Vikings approach won't change, esp on a frigid Sunday night.
scullyitsme
January 01, 2022 at 10:35 am
Why the packers continue to pass is beyond me.. I mean it’s not like they have the best qb in football or anything. That dang Aaron Rodgers switching every run play Lafleur and McCarthy called to a “hero”ball deep, can’t wait till he’s gone right? We can become the Tennessee titans and have their full trophy case, oh wait. I suggest you and others here take a peek at the list superbowl winning qbs the last 35 years and tell me how many of them “ran the ball” it’s quite short, meaning Trent Dilfer
jannesbjornson
January 01, 2022 at 02:28 pm
WCO pass to run and the short completion being the equivalent to a running play. Key Word: Completion. ( hang on to the ball Devante). I believe the run game becomes effective when you have a lead and then plug-in the grinder. When they set up 8 in the box or flood the short zones, then burn them deep. The probability theories, or watered down Game Theory called sports analytics looks tepid compared to a FG to tie a game and give your team a CHANCE to win it in the future OT.
flackcatcher
December 31, 2021 at 01:48 pm
Zimmer pulled out a bunch of unscripted looks on both sides of ball. Made both Lafleur and Pettine look silly on the field. One of the very few times both men got out coached on the field last year. Yeah, the wind was Cook flying past the Smith bros... :-)
barutanseijin
December 31, 2021 at 04:08 pm
Wind or not, it would probably be a good idea for the Vikings to run Cook as much as they can.
For their part, the Packers need to get ahead and keep the pedal to the metal so the Vikings need to pass.
marpag1
December 31, 2021 at 02:30 pm
Reports are that Kellen Mond, like Cousins, is also unvaccinated. If so, and if he is deemed to be a "close contact" to Cousins, then Mond will be out too for a mandatory 5 day seclusion. You would think that spending a bunch of time together in the QB room might make you a close contact...
Actually, I'd prefer to beat the brakes off the Vikings with Cousins in the lineup. But this will have to do.
I just saw this (below) on a different board and thought I would share. You gotta love it.
"I’m a Viking fan since the 60s. The past 3-4 years have gone from hopeful to perplexed to frustrated to angry. The final stage is now apathy. I really don’t care any more. The whole thing is now just stupid and ridiculous. Tear it all down and start over. Maybe I’ll come back. Or maybe I won’t."
If that doesn't just warm your heart then I don't know what's wrong with you.
UPDATE: Zimmer now says Sean Mannion will start.
TarynsEyes
December 31, 2021 at 01:25 pm
"If that doesn't just warm your heart then I don't know what's wrong with you."
The Packers went through that for two decades, and the only reason the fan base stayed loyal or at least appeared to be is there was nothing else to do in that one horse, one red-light, one TGIF restaurant hamlet which compelled the people to go to the game.
Like Rodgers said recently, Green Bay is not a tourist destination, and if it wasn't for the Packers playing there, it would have nothing and attract nothing, especially another football team to replace the Packers if they left.
marpag1
December 31, 2021 at 01:53 pm
What does your obvious disdain for the city of Green Bay have to do with anything that I said? LOL
TarynsEyes
December 31, 2021 at 02:18 pm
You talked about the fan(s) being disgusted with the Vikings, and I simply reminded you of the bad decades in GB. I'm just saying fans in GB jumped ship also, and the waiting list is now more an investment to be able to sell tickets for a huge profit. Haven't the seats been getting filled by more other team fans in recent years? Hasn't it been a topic about fans selling their playoffs ticket seats to the opposing team fans? The waiting list has a more entrepreneur mindset making up the list than die-hard fans. The solace in that is every team is witnessing it to some extent. Season ticket holder means you have a good source for extra income and fandom is secondary.
marpag1
December 31, 2021 at 02:40 pm
Good grief. What is your home planet?
TarynsEyes
December 31, 2021 at 10:47 pm
You likely have a single thinking pattern process when it comes to anything Packers. I do not follow such a pattern. You are likely a Green and Gold colored glasses fan where I never wear such glasses, hence why you question the planet I'm from because you cannot believe another might exist where thinking is different than yours. You speak as though no Packer fan ever felt the way that Viking fan felt. As I said in another recent article asking who one liked better Favre or Rodgers. You are the type of fan that's over the cliff of fandom.
packanimal
December 31, 2021 at 02:46 pm
What's your evidence that "the waiting list is now more an investment to be able to sell tickets for a huge profit?" Did you survey the tens of thousands on the list? Nobody likes seeing the opponent's fans in any seats at all, but what's the hard evidence that that problem has gotten much worse or worse at all? Of course, some people sell some or all of their tickets, but how many?
TarynsEyes
December 31, 2021 at 11:02 pm
There have been articles here and anyone who is a frequent visitor knows of them, though none this year so far, but there have been a few castigating those that had been seen at the gates of Lambeau selling them for 2-10x and more, which I believe was ranted on by Nagler's sidekick Cory being at a game, possibly even a playoff game where he couldn't believe how many of the other team s fans were in the seats, in Lambeau. We know the NFL allots/mandates a certain number for visiting team fans, but it sure isn't close to a 50/50 split. Those that alter the fan counts get bought by those who buy to sell, and yes, they're likely season ticket holders cashing in and making a profit. I don't blame them, it's business not personal, it's business, and fandom doesn't replace business and making money. So don't think the Vikings fans are losers, many Packer fans are the same.
Crankbait
December 31, 2021 at 02:02 pm
Unless you are a sportsman… Hunting fishing skiing snowmobiling etc. plenty to do actually just different and dare I say, manly.
LeotisHarris
December 31, 2021 at 04:11 pm
You could "dare" to describe those activities as "manly." It would be a great way for you to show people you don't spend time doing any of them in Wisconsin, because if you did you'd see many women and girls participating.
Maybe it's time for your wife to make you a sandwich?
Crankbait
January 02, 2022 at 08:53 am
Triggered by the word manly?
yikes.
barutanseijin
December 31, 2021 at 03:34 pm
What nonsense.
The Packers also played in Milwaukee back then and people all over the state were Packers fans & went to games at Lambeau & County Stadium (& State Fair Park before that). They could have been Bears or Vikings fans or even Lions fans (there were a few) or done a million other things in Madison or Milwaukee but they followed the Packers.
JerseyAl
January 01, 2022 at 08:05 am
As for the tourist destination thing, that's changing thanks to the Titletown development. The change is palpable and obvious to see if you've been to the area during the last five years or so. Of course, it's still mainly a cold weather destination, so expanding that is where they still have some work to do.
Guam
January 01, 2022 at 10:49 am
Not sure I agree with your logic Taryn. I have lived in NYC and Houston and watched loyal Giants and Oilers fan bases show up for every game (to the point it was tough to get a ticket) even though both teams had been bad for some time. Some teams have loyal fan bases (and some don't) and no one would call NYC or Houston "one horse towns" without lots of alternative entertainment.
I also wouldn't be quite so harsh about Green Bay either. Everybody has different likes and dislikes and those often change as you age. Having spent much of my life in large cities (add Tokyo and Milwaukee to the above list), I elected to retire to a much smaller city in Wisconsin. Just grew weary of the "irritation" factors (traffic, crime, unfriendly people, etc. etc.) associated with living in large cities. Small cities have their charms.
jannesbjornson
December 31, 2021 at 01:44 pm
If you cannot make it to a super-spreader event New Year's Eve, you can get your seat at the virtual Comedy Club by scrolling down the Comments Section of the CovidKirk article in the Star Trib--hilarious.
LeotisHarris
December 31, 2021 at 04:21 pm
Man, Jim Souhan dropped the hammer on Cousins. Wow!
Lphill
December 31, 2021 at 02:07 pm
Barry better play 3 down lineman and Campbell and Barnes , bring Amos up to the box, that should contain the run .
Packerlifer
January 01, 2022 at 04:39 pm
It's going to be more on the offense to win this one in any event. The offense can't go cold for a half, like last Saturday. Last time in Minny they started too slow.
Queens' defense is hollow if the Packers come out hard with a balanced run-pass game. They won't stop either as long as the Packers commit to doing both.
Leatherhead
December 31, 2021 at 02:55 pm
Cousins has been in Minnesota 4 years, and his record during that time is 32-30-1.
That’s the definition of mediocre. He is 14-18-1 on the road. He’s 2-5 this season.
jurp
December 31, 2021 at 02:43 pm
And he's made a metric f__kton of money. Ah, I love it when my favorite team to hate* does something really, really stupid.
* Why not the Bears? Because, while I do loathe the team, their fans in general are knowledgeable about the game, don't bitch too much about the refs, can look at their team's foibles with a sense of humor, and do not think that there's some weird conspiracy in the NFL to deny them any success. I also lived in La Crosse for 7 years and worked with Vikings fans. Abso-fucking-lutely the most annoying football "fans" I've ever met.
Chicago is, of course, my second most favorite team to hate.
marpag1
December 31, 2021 at 03:12 pm
"Ah, I love it when my favorite team to hate does something really, really stupid."
YOU LIKE THAT!!!!! YOU LIKE THAT!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KaR2mmifk0
barutanseijin
December 31, 2021 at 03:50 pm
I hated the Bears more when Ditka was around. The players were good for the most part, some were all time greats even, and you had to respect their ability. Ditka just made the whole bunch hatable.. That guy was an ass.
Gee
December 31, 2021 at 06:48 pm
You should go visit Windy City sometime during Packer weeks. Knowledgeable sure, but their hate of everything Green Bay, is everywhere. Get's even better when Viks fans join in.
egbertsouse
January 01, 2022 at 08:12 am
Vikings fans are the worst, I am surrounded by them. ( I see a guy in the grocery store every so often wearing a purple Sharper jersey. That’s right, his favorite player is a serial rapist.) I’m sure they are concocting a whole conspiracy theory on how Goodell infected Captain Kirk with Covid to help the Packers. Their whole season is defined by beating GB, nothing else. If the Packers lose on Sunday I will have to stay home for at least six months.
Qoojo
December 31, 2021 at 05:51 pm
That's MN's record, not Cousin's record. This is a team sport. I am sure he lost more than a few of those games with bad play. QB isn't like a pitcher in baseball though. Not many QBs can carry a team like Rodgers. I remember a couple games in Rodgers first season as starter where he brought them back in the 4th, and the defense was so bad that they still lost with little time left. Morons still said Rodgers could not win from behind.
jurp
January 01, 2022 at 11:37 am
I read on a Minnesota site that Cousins is 2-26 in games where he's behind and could win with a score. That's not a team issue, that's a QB issue.
Qoojo
January 01, 2022 at 05:53 pm
I am not claiming Cousins is good or bad. QBs get too much credit either way. Those wins and loses are not all on him.
Just glancing at pro football reference, in 2020, MN had the 11th ranked offense in points, and 29th in defense. Yards, offense was 4th and defense was 27th. The offense averaged about 27 points a game. Kind of sounds like the crap we get to watch with packers, except the offense isn't as good.
barutanseijin
December 31, 2021 at 03:40 pm
I kinda wanted to see the Dickless Wonder insert the dagger himself, throwing a pick six in the 4Q.
Oh well. Maybe he can do it in a playof—- wait…
DrMixerGED
December 31, 2021 at 03:51 pm
Had a really cool experience. I'm an Arizona Packers' fan and I ran into a guy at Walmart wearing a cool Packers beanie. His name is Joel I think he said. Said he's a regular to Cheesehead TV. Anyway, it was nice to talk to someone about the team! I've read here for a long time, but VERY rarely comment. I guess I'll try to start commenting more often.
JerseyAl
January 01, 2022 at 08:07 am
Don't be a stranger!
canadapacker
December 31, 2021 at 03:52 pm
This is the time to have our D work out a plan to cover wide receivers. Such has have Stokes play up tight but not let guys run by him. Have King play bump and play more physical at the line of scrimmage - and get after Cook . We really need big push up the middle to limit Mannion on looking around .
calabasa
December 31, 2021 at 05:58 pm
Weird, how the unvaxxed Cousins got Covid. I am shocked, I say, shocked!
Although our own unvaxxed Complicated Fella pulled the same thing and missed time this season. Only difference is we have more of a cushion.
edp1959
December 31, 2021 at 08:39 pm
How many vaxed have gotten Covid and missed games? Are you shocked with this too?
Bitternotsour
December 31, 2021 at 08:59 pm
it's sad that science is so hard for morons.
edp1959
December 31, 2021 at 09:46 pm
Ahhh poor thing, not surprised a child doesn't understand science has nothing to do with this.
ROCK ON REAL PACKERS FANS!!!!
barutanseijin
January 01, 2022 at 02:44 pm
So to be WeelPackaFaaaan you have to be a covid denialist/anti-vaxxer. Gotcha! Keep patting yourself on the back, Dr Eddy.
Crankbait
January 02, 2022 at 09:14 am
The truth continues to stare people straight in the face, and continues to be unrecognized.
Sad.
Starrbrite
December 31, 2021 at 07:05 pm
Personally, I wanted the Packer to beat the Vikings like a circus-monkey with Cousins in the lineup.
The officiating bailed him out in our last contest and I’ve been looking forward to this matchup since then. The officiating also bailed him out a few years ago when he threw a pick as Clay Matthew’s put a perfect tackle/sack on him. They were subsequently given another chance and won the game that should have been over.
In any case—-beat-’em like a circus-monkey!
JerseyAl
January 01, 2022 at 08:10 am
butter-fingered defensive backs bailed him out. He tried real hard to hand us the game but we did not accept the gifts.
Philarod
December 31, 2021 at 07:39 pm
Cousins is fine -- probably a top half -- 15 or so - starting QB.
I still can't take a team with a great RB in Cook, as good a WR as there is in the NFL (Jefferson) and a helluva second WR (Thielen) lightly. I love our guys, but Cook is a better RB than Jones, and I'd take JJ by a slight margin over Davante (don't kill me, he's faster) and Thielen is better than any second receiver we have. And neither TE is great,
Go, Pack, Go, and Happy New Year!!
Bitternotsour
December 31, 2021 at 09:03 pm
Theilen. Woah. He's probably better when he's not on IR. Which he is.
When Jefferson has a ring I'll give him his due. Right now he's a Viking, and that precludes him from ever winning a super bowl. Facts.
barutanseijin
December 31, 2021 at 09:10 pm
Thielen is done for the year. Jefferson is a great talent but someone needs to throw it to him. Cook is the guy the Packers have to worry about.
Philarod
January 01, 2022 at 10:29 am
Didn't know Thielen was out.
jurp
January 01, 2022 at 11:39 am
He aggravated an existing ankle injury last week.
holmesmd
December 31, 2021 at 09:52 pm
Cook is no better than Jones. Stop watching NFL Network.He shortly won’t be better than Dillon. Write that down.
holmesmd
December 31, 2021 at 09:46 pm
If these guys can’t get this game done, not a SB team anyway.
Lphill
December 31, 2021 at 11:33 pm
Packers make backup quarterbacks look like Dan Marino .
Crankbait
January 02, 2022 at 09:17 am
Yes they do and until this defense actually plays a solid game down the stretch, what makes anybody think that they can just flip a switch in the playoffs ?
insanity is repeating the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Packerlifer
January 01, 2022 at 05:57 am
Mannion is not Spurgeon Wynn or Joe Webb. He's been in the NFL since 2015 albeit as a back up and journeyman. His style appears to be much like Cousins, so that doesn't change their offense all that much.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlBRVc99cJ4
They will be leaning on Cook running in any case.
The Packers had best beware: many is the time a back-up comes in and has a career day and his team steps up their game to support him. Sunday night is no time to get tripped up.
Bitternotsour
January 01, 2022 at 02:49 pm
Mannion will be colder than he has ever been in his life. He's going to get hit and he's going to give the ball up. Frequently. Also too, it's the Vikings, and they're awful.
Crankbait
January 02, 2022 at 09:19 am
Keep their offense off the field by running the ball !
That's right, do onto others as they do on to us. Simple concept but I just cannot trust the Packers to carry it out.
If the Packers do not come out crisp early then the Vikings trenches are going to be jacked up the whole game and we will be in trouble.