Vikings to rest Cousins, key starters on Sunday
The Minnesota Vikings are expected to sit quarterback Kirk Cousins on Sunday in their regular-season finale against the Chicago Bears, according to a report Friday by ESPN.
The report also noted that although Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer said earlier this week that he had not yet finalized the plan for Sunday, the Vikings are “leaning heavily” toward resting several starters, including Cousins, as they look ahead to post-season play.
Additional reports also named running back Dalvin Cook and linebacker Eric Kendricks among those to sit Sunday against Chicago.
The Vikings (10-5) will be the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs no matter the outcome of their game against the Bears (7-8).
If they do sit Cousins, expect backup QB Sean Mannion to make the second start of his career.
Dallas QB Dak Prescott is expected to play on Sunday when the Cowboys (7-8) play host to Washington (3-12) in their mustwin season finale.
The 26-year-old Prescott, who is fighting a strained AC joint in his shoulder that limited his practice time this week, completed 25-of44 passes for 265 yards in Dallas’ 17-9 loss to Philadelphia last Sunday. The setback allowed the Eagles (8-7) to move one game ahead of the Cowboys in the NFC East heading into their season finale against the New York Giants (4-11) on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.
For the Cowboys to win the NFC East and advance to the playoffs, they must win and the Eagles must lose on Sunday.
Prescott has thrown for 4,599 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season.
Eagles running back Jordan Howard has been cleared for contact and is expected to play in Sunday ’s regular-season finale against the Giants.
Coach Doug Pederson announced Howard’s status on Friday after the running back has missed six straight games due to a shoulder stinger sustained on Nov. 3.
Pederson was not as definitive in regard to the status of three-time Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz.
His availability for Sunday’s game is considered “up in the air” by Pederson.
“I’m not going to risk further injury just to have him out there,” Pederson said.
Ertz sustained a rib injury against Dallas last Sunday. He returned and appeared to be labouring while finishing with four catches for 28 yards.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff will return in their respective roles for the 2020 season, the team announced Friday.
Both Quinn and Dimitroff will report to Falcons president and CEO Rich Mckay, with owner Arthur Blank retaining oversight of the football operations.
Quinn has a career record of 4237 through five seasons but sports a 23-24 mark since the Super Bowl LI loss to the New England Patriots.
Mckay said that Quinn’s willingness to self-evaluate after the team’s 1-7 start this season is what pushed the proverbial ball in his favour.
The Falcons have posted a 5-2 record since that stretch heading into Sunday’s season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.