Justin Jefferson Drops Honest Thoughts on Kirk Cousins' Return to Vikings

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is underrated and under appreciated. At least, that's how he's viewed outside of the Vikings organization. Inside the organization, he's viewed with great respect. For that reason, the trade to bring him back to Minnesota received a positive reception.

Now, he gets set to take on the Green Bay Packers. NFL insider Ian Rapoport discussed Cousins' availability for the Packers game. Here's some of what he had to say.

"Kirk Cousins is expected to start for the Minnesota Vikings, really not a surprise here. They brought him in to come rescue a 6-2 team, and really there's been an air of familiarity to the Minnesota Vikings practice … He ran out to 'Higher' from Creed, one of his favorite songs, a Kirk Cousins classic from years back when he was killing it with the Minnesota Vikings. And this is the starting quarterback that they came to after canvassing the league early in the week. They went to Mac Jones, they went to Daniel Jones. The reality is Kirk Cousins was the first choice of the Minnesota Vikings. He knows Kevin O'Connell's system, he has thrived in it, and they do expect him to come in and be the starting quarterback."

Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson weighed in on what Cousins brings the Vikings offense. Here's some of what he had to say.

"I think he just understands the game. I mean, he's a guy that studies the game a lot. He understands how the defenses play, especially covering me. And he understands, just like he said the other day, the plays that we have called that are kind of my plays. And he understands the timing and the windows to throw those type of plays. But he also doesn't force those type of plays to me, and he just lets the game come to me."

Cousins may not be a future hall of famer, but he's highly effective at getting the football to Justin Jefferson. That alone makes him the right fit for Minnesota.

Had the Vikings routinely reached 20 points scored consistently, we probably wouldn't have had the conversations we have had about the team's offensive deficiencies. Struggling to reach 20 points was the problem.

That wasn't an issue when Cousins was in Minnesota. Whether or not the problems will persist is still to be seen, but there's reason for optimism with the new signal caller. Cousins will look to get the offense back on track in Week 10 against the Packers.