After weeks of ineffective quarterback play, the Minnesota Vikings are bringing back an old friend.

The 6-2 team traded for Kirk Cousins ahead of Tuesday's deadline, sending back a 2027 third-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in the deal. The Ringer's Tom Pelissero first reported the trade details.

It's a reunion for the 38-year-old Cousins, who was the Vikings' starting quarterback from 2018 to 2023. Over those six seasons, Cousins went 50-37-1 as a starter with 23,265 passing yards, 171 passing touchdowns, 55 interceptions and three Pro Bowl nods.

Since leaving Minnesota, Cousins spent two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (2024-25) and later joined the Raiders (2026). He's started all nine games for Las Vegas in 2026, accumulating 2,340 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The trade will elevate quarterback Fernando Mendoza into the starting lineup for Las Vegas. After getting picked first overall in April's draft, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner served as Cousins' backup to open the season.

The Vikings, after starting 6-0, have lost two straight while their offense continues to struggle. Minnesota has the second-worst offense and the second-best defense in terms of yardage through Week 9.

Offseason acquisition Kyler Murray hasn't found his early-career form, and a hamstring strain suffered in Week 8 kept him out of Minnesota's Monday Night Football loss to the Buffalo Bills. He also missed a game earlier this season due to a concussion.

With Murray out, veteran backup Carson Wentz took over for his second start of the season. Those two games yielded 15 total points and no touchdowns by the offense, with Wentz completing 19 of 45 passes for 224 yards and two interceptions.

This trade follows years of quarterback moves that have not worked out for the franchise. After Cousins left as a free agent in 2023, the team brought in Sam Darnold and drafted J.J. McCarthy in the first round. Darnold led the team to a 14-3 record, then left for the Seattle Seahawks and immediately won a Super Bowl. McCarthy was ineffective in 2025, and he was traded to the New York Giants earlier this season despite Murray and Wentz's struggles. McCarthy has since won his first two starts and his team leads the NFC East.

The move for Cousins shows a belief in Brian Flores' defense, which has been dominant for much of the season. Minnesota is allowing a league-best 14.5 points per game and is tied for the most sacks (29).

The Vikings will hit the road in Week 10 for a rivalry game against the Green Bay Packers. After that, they'll go to Mexico City for a Sunday Night Football matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.

Mendoza, meanwhile, will make his first career start on Sunday at home against the Seahawks.