The Minnesota Vikings announced Thursday that quarterback Kirk Cousins will wear No. 8 again during his second stint with the team.
Rookie safety Jakobe Thomas, who had worn the number, will switch to No. 6. Thomas previously used No. 6 while playing at Middle Tennessee State.
Cousins addressed the number situation Wednesday, telling reporters, “I’m confident that Jakobe and I can have a healthy and mature conversation and figure this out.”
The Vikings acquired the 38-year-old quarterback from the Las Vegas Raiders in a trade that sent a 2027 third-round pick to Las Vegas before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. Minnesota entered the week at 6-2.
Cousins completed 202 of 315 passes for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions with a 97.1 passer rating in nine games with the Raiders this season. He completed 64.1 percent of his attempts.
Across 15 NFL seasons, Cousins has thrown for 47,040 yards and 318 touchdowns while completing 66.6 percent of his passes. He holds a career passer rating of 96.8 and has earned four Pro Bowl selections.
During his first six seasons in Minnesota from 2018 through 2023, Cousins wore No. 8 exclusively and posted several of the strongest statistical seasons of his career, including multiple 4,000-yard campaigns and three Pro Bowl nods with the club.
Thomas, selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Miami, has not appeared in a regular-season game. He wore No. 8 at the start of his rookie year before the switch.
Minnesota travels to Green Bay for a Week 10 matchup against the Packers, who stand at 6-3. Kickoff is set for noon Central Time on Sunday.
Fans who already own Cousins jerseys from his earlier tenure will not need to purchase replacements. The quarterback’s return places him back in the number most associated with his time in Minnesota.
Cousins also wore No. 8 during parts of his career with Washington and during his college days at Michigan State. He used No. 18 while with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 and 2025 before reclaiming No. 8 with the Raiders earlier this season.
The Vikings ranked among the league’s top defenses entering the week, holding opponents to an average of 14.5 points per game. Their offense had struggled at times, prompting the move to bring Cousins back.
Thomas transferred to Miami for his final college season after stops at Middle Tennessee State and Tennessee. He recorded 76 tackles, five interceptions and 3.5 sacks in 2025 while helping the Hurricanes reach the College Football Playoff.
Cousins, a fourth-round pick in 2012, has started 176 games in his career. His return gives Minnesota a veteran option under center as the team pushes for a playoff berth in the competitive NFC North.
The official roster update confirms the number assignments ahead of Sunday’s game. Cousins is expected to take the snaps in his familiar No. 8 against Green Bay.
