Vikings Place QBs Kirk Cousins, Kellen Mond, Nate Stanley on Reserve/COVID List
Vikings quarterbacks Kirk Cousins, Kellen Mond, and Nate Stanley were placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Sunday, according to the NFL's transactions wire. That frees up some space on the roster for the team to sign one or both of QBs Case Cookus and Jackson Erdmann, who are set to work out with the team on Monday and could be available for Minnesota's first padded practice of training camp this afternoon.
Whoever is signed will join Jake Browning as the Vikings' only available quarterbacks for practice, unless Mond happens to be activated on Monday. Browning was the only QB able to practice on Saturday night, and he took full advantage of the opportunity with an impressive performance that may have solidified his status as Cousins' primary backup.
On Monday morning, the Vikings also announced that WR Myron Mitchell is joining the three QBs on the COVID list. It's notable that Mitchell participated in Saturday night's practice and is now going on the list.
This saga began with the news on Saturday that Mond had tested positive for COVID and that Cousins and Stanley were deemed high-risk close contacts.
Mond, Cousins, and Stanley, because they are not vaccinated, are out for a minimum of five days. The earliest they could return is Thursday, provided they have negative tests on all five of those days.
It wouldn't be surprising to see either Cookus or Erdmann take over as the fourth QB for the rest of camp even once Stanley is eligible to return. Unlike an established star like Cousins or Adam Thielen or a high draft pick like Mond, Stanley hasn't been good enough to warrant the headaches of having an unvaccinated player on the roster.
With four players going on the Reserve/COVID list and WR Bisi Johnson going on season-ending injured reserve with his torn ACL, the Vikings suddenly have five free spots on their 90-man roster, at least for now.
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