Vikings' Kirk Cousins Suffers Achilles Injury
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Minnesota Vikings knew the magnitude of what had just happened.
Kirk Cousins, their star quarterback, had suffered a serious injury during the team's game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Cousins is feared to have torn his Achilles tendon, which would be a season-ending injury.
The injury occurred in the third quarter of the game. Cousins dropped back to pass on a third-and-19 play, and as he stepped forward, he appeared to injure his right leg. He was unable to put weight on his leg and was helped off the field.
After the game, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said that the team is "fearing an Achilles injury." A league source also told ESPN's Dianna Russini that the Vikings believe Cousins tore his Achilles tendon.
Cousins is scheduled to undergo tests on Monday to confirm the severity of the injury. If he does have a torn Achilles tendon, he will likely miss the rest of the season.
Cousins has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season. He is third in the league in passer rating, third in yards and first in touchdown passes. His injury is a major blow to the Vikings, who are currently in the thick of the NFC playoff race.
Vikings React to Cousins' Injury
In the locker room after the game, Cousins' teammates were devastated.
"You feel for a guy like that who puts so much into this," veteran safety Harrison Smith said.
Tight end T.J. Hockenson struggled for words.
"It's super tough," he said. "I don't know. There's nothing, really, I can say. I just love Kirk to death. I love his family. I love him. I love everything about him."
Impact of Cousins' Injury
Cousins' injury is a major setback for the Vikings. He is the team's leader and the driving force behind the offense. Without him, the Vikings will be hard-pressed to maintain their success.
The Vikings do have other quarterbacks on their roster, but none of them have the experience or the ability of Cousins. Rookie Kellen Mond is the most likely candidate to start in Cousins' absence, but he has never taken a snap in a regular-season game.
The Vikings are still in a good position to make the playoffs, but Cousins' injury will make it much more difficult. They will need to rely on their running game and their defense to carry them the rest of the way.
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