Kirk Cousins OUT, Kellen Mond Likely In for Vikings on Sunday Night Football vs. Packers

Back during offseason workouts and Training Camp, Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer warned about the very possibility of losing key players at inopportune times for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Now, Zimmer is seeing this nightmare unfold at the worst possible moment with the playoffs still in reach, as starting quarterback Kirk Cousins is out with a positive COVID-19 test for Sunday's primetime game vs. the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

The news was first broken by ESPN's Adam Schefter, who reports that Cousins had COVID symptoms, and after reporting those symptoms to team officials, tested positive.

Due to Cousins' unvaccinated status, he has no opportunity to test out of the COVID-19 protocol before Sunday night's game.

Who will be the Vikings QB on Sunday? Sean Mannion, Kellen Mond or Kyle Sloter?

As of this writing, Mannion remains on the league's COVID-19 list after testing positive last Sunday. Mond appears to be in line to make the start ahead of Sloter as of now, but nothing has been confirmed. Mond was the 66th overall pick in 2021 out of Texas A&M this season after playing four years in College Station.

The Packers opened as 7-point favorites at WynnBET Sportsbook before inching towards the Vikings side at +6.5. The line as of Friday morning went back up to 7 before being taken off the board for now.