Who do the Minnesota Vikings have as Kirk Cousins’ backup?

A dreadful first half against the Atlanta Falcons begs the question-who is Kirk Cousins’ backup?

The Kirk Cousins Experience includes some good, along with some unbelievable bad. A Week 6 matchup against the 0-5 Atlanta Falcons, and the league’s 31st-ranked pass defense (335.8 yards per game), seemed to set the table for “Good Kirk.”

Then came his first pass attempt.

Cousins finished the first half 8-for-14 for 102 yards with three interceptions.

So who is Kirk Cousins’ backup?

The way Cousins has played for much of this season, he’s begging to be replaced. But the Vikings gave him a contract extension this offseason, attaching themselves to him through 2022.

But, who is Cousins’ backup?

Sean Mannion is in his second season with the Vikings, and he has yet to see action this season. He appeared in three games last year, starting the regular season finale as the Vikings had nothing at stake for playoff positioning.

Mannion was drafted in the third round of the 2015 draft by the Rams, with 53 pass attempts, 10 games played and one start in four seasons with them. His one start for the Rams also came in a meaningless Week 17 game, to end the 2017 season. All in all, 55 of his 74 career pass attempts have come in his two starts.

The money devoted to Cousins means the Vikings can’t invest much in a veteran backup quarterback. If he were ever injured, Mannion would have to play and perhaps start meaningful games.

The question is how bad does Cousins have to be before he gets benched, if only for the rest of a game? If the second half against the Falcons doesn’t go better, we may find out.