Kirk Cousins praised for surprising move

With Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback Kirk Cousins suffering a season-ending torn Achilles tendon Sunday, few would have expected Cousins to show up to the team’s kids club Halloween party Monday. But he did just that, and he made some young fans’ nights:

@KirkCousins8 my nephew met you tonight at the Halloween party. You could have stayed away, you could have said no to an autograph. No one would have blamed you after the day you have had. Thank you for showing him that despite all the bad you can rise above it. #Vikings pic.twitter.com/HtZp2mq9xZ

— Blair Reynolds (@Hometownguy33) October 31, 2023

@Vikings @KevOC7 @PhilMackey @DustBaker Season over. 24 hours after the most devastating event of his career, OUR quarterback doesn’t sit home feeling sorry for himself. No, he attends the Kids Club Trick-Or-Treat Trail in Egan. That’s our QB. #Vikings pic.twitter.com/0KtQ87h3HH

— Dave (@dtpkll) October 31, 2023

This drew a lot of praise on Twitter, with some of that even coming from fans of other teams. Here’s some of that:

Kirk Cousins seems to be a really nice person. I truly wish he gets well soon. https://t.co/v79cOWjwzp

— Wendell Ferreira (@wendellfp) October 31, 2023

Kirk Cousins: Great QB, better human being #Skol https://t.co/Sb9N8Gyjmb

— Jake Schueller (@Jake_Schueller) October 31, 2023

Kirk Cousins might be the most likable guy in the NFL https://t.co/amlkAZT7gV

— Bay Area Sports Tweeter (@BaySportsTweetr) October 31, 2023

I swear Kirk Cousins is one of the greatest guys in the league. Hope he recovers well and gets a nice contract. He deserves it https://t.co/qxUwYStKvu

— Eagles Tribune (@eaglestribune1) October 31, 2023

I hate when players from teams you hate do stuff like this. It's hard not to like Kirk Cousins. Feel horrible for him. #GoPackGo https://t.co/7CSixbf92o

— Aaron (@whitesoxduh) October 31, 2023

It is cool to see Cousins doing that so soon after a season-ending injury. And it’s perhaps more interesting still to see that after a lot of speculation that he might not even be with the Vikings at this point. With Minnesota starting the season 1-4, there was quite a bit of talk that Cousins might be traded, perhaps especially to the New York Jets.

But Cousins declined to talk much about that possibility. And ESPN’s Adam Schefter eventually reported two weeks ago that Cousins would not look to waive his no-trade clause “short of changing unforeseen circumstances.” And the Vikings did get themselves back on track, and they’re now 4-4 following Sunday’s 24-10 over the Green Bay Packers. And Cousins himself received a strong “top-10 quarterback” endorsement from ESPN’s Troy Aikman last week.

Cousins’ injury means he won’t play again this year. But he is under contract with the Vikings for 2024 and 2025, and there are plenty of fans there who appreciate what he brings to the team on and off the field. And this move Monday night certainly won him some more fans, even from other teams.

[@dtpkll and @hometownguy33 on Twitter]