{
  "id": 19430348,
  "title": "Vikings bring Cousins back to try to keep the season on track, putting O’Connell under scrutiny",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/vikings-bring-cousins-back-to-try-to-keep-the-season-on-track-putting",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-11T02:23:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/nfl/2026/11/10/vikings-bring-cousins-back-to-try-to-keep-the-season-on-track-putting-oconnell-under-scrutiny"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Minnesota Vikings, teetering near the bottom of the NFC standings, brought back veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins on Tuesday to salvage their season. The move, made to meet the NFL trade deadline, was coupled with a threat from general manager Nolan Teasley that the team would make more moves if offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell did not demonstrate he could lead the offense effectively. Cousins, who has excelled in O’Connell’s system as a Raider, ranked second in the league with 20 touchdowns and fifth with 2,340 yards in 2023. However, O’Connell admitted the coaching staff had struggled to get Cousins into a rhythm this season. The Vikings have faltered recently, suffering two losses in nine days and sliding out of first place in the NFC. Coach O’Connell acknowledged the lack of rhythm in the offense, blaming himself for not calling enough runs in key games, particularly against the Buffalo Bills. The team's offensive struggles have been well-documented, ranking in the bottom five in several categories over a 25-game span. The promotion of offensive line coach Keith Carter and the hiring of assistant head coach Frank Smith have not yielded the desired results. Rookie Brett Thorson, in particular, had a standout performance, punting four of his five attempts inside the 20-yard line. As the Vikings prepare for their next game against the NFC-leading San Francisco 49ers, the pressure is on O’Connell to prove that he is the right long-term fit for the team.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}