Kirk Cousins is making his triumphant return as Minnesota Vikings quarterback on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. He'll return to Lambeau Field, where he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in 2023, which effectively ended his first tenure in Minnesota.
Since then, the Vikings have started eight different quarterbacks. However, Minnesota has failed to get consistent play from the position since the beginning of the 2025 season.
The Vikings signed Kyler Murray this offseason, expecting him to raise the overall level of the quarterback room. But injuries and his own ineffectiveness have plagued an offense that ranks 31st in yards and is dragging down one of the league's best defenses.
Carson Wentz started last Monday night against the Buffalo
Bills but completed only 8 of 25 passes for 81 yards and two interceptions. Max Brosmer came in during garbage time to hit 6 of 7 passes for 58 yards.
The advanced metrics support the eye test. According to ESPN's Kevin Seifert, Minnesota's quarterbacks have operated as a bottom-five unit in the league this year.
"Kyler Murray, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer have combined for a 39.0 QBR, fourth worst in the NFL," Seifert wrote on Thursday. "Murray's six starts have produced the lowest production totals since his rookie season with the Arizona Cardinals. Is it the quarterbacks? The scheme? Playcalling? Collective poor performances usually have multiple explanations."
Cousins was fantastic through nine games with the Las Vegas Raiders this year. He completed 64.1% of his passes for 2,340 yards and 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. The Vikings hope he can carry that kind of production into Minnesota's offense over the final nine games of the season and beyond.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: The Vikings' QBR is worse than you may have initially thought
