Minnesota Vikings Suffer Season-Ending Injury to Kirk Cousins, Acquire Joshua Dobbs in Deal
The Minnesota Vikings suffered a significant setback this week as starting quarterback Kirk Cousins sustained a season-ending injury during their win against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. Cousins, who was on the verge of potentially signing a new contract with the Vikings, tore his Achilles in the fourth quarter and will need surgery, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
With backup Nick Mullens already out due to a back injury, rookie Jaren Hall came in to replace Cousins. Hall, who played for BYU last season and was drafted by the Vikings in the 2023 NFL Draft, had a rough debut completing just three passes for 23 yards and was sacked once. Despite the loss of their starting quarterback, the Vikings acquired Josh Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals in a trade. Dobbs is expected to take over as the starter from Week 10 onwards.
Before the injury, Cousins was having a solid season, completing 69.5% of his passes for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns, while throwing just five interceptions. His performance turned heads and prompted trade rumors as he entered the final year of his contract with the team. However, he quashed those rumors by stating he wouldn't accept any deals and intended to finish the season in Minnesota.
The Vikings, currently 4-4, show no signs of giving up, as evidenced by their trade for Dobbs at the deadline. They hold the fourth seed in the NFC, the seventh-best record in the league, and have a winnable matchup against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9, where Hall is slated to begin his starting role. Dobbs, who started eight games for the Cardinals while Kyler Murray was injured, is expected to step into his place from Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints.
The trading of Dobbs marks the second time he's been moved this season. The Cardinals were 1-7 at the time of the trade and will receive a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, potentially turning into a sixth-rounder based on Dobbs' playing time.
Dobbs, who lost both of his starts for the Cardinals, has a career record of 1-9 in 10 starts.
In the Viking's pursuit of making the playoffs, their NFC North rivals, the Detroit Lions, have emerged as the clear favorite with an impressive 6-2 record. The Vikings stand second in the division, with an outside shot at the title, currently at +900 odds. Betting on the Vikings to make the postseason stands at +260, while having them miss the playoffs comes in at -360. The Vikings' initial win total over/under this season was set at 8.5, but was recently dropped to 7.5 following Cousins' injury.
Their odds to win Super Bowl LVIII have seen a significant change as well, moving from +6500 to +15000. While their chances of making the NFC Championship have also been reduced, their odds stand at +10000.
Looking ahead, the Vikings' schedule includes three division games, including two matchups with the Detroit Lions, who currently lead the division. Of their remaining games, only three are against teams with winning records, making a postseason spot a realistic goal.
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Source: www.casino.org
