Kirk Cousins Expects Achilles to be Full Go by OTAs

By Eric Strack |

Updated: Jan 18, 2024

An image from June 13, 2023 of Day 1 of Offseason Mini Camp at TCOPC in Eagan, MN.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is doing some media rounds on Thursday as part of a Super Bowl partnership with Tostitos brand and, alongside of slinging his favorite tortilla chip, Kirk is selling his future health to any team who might be listening.

One of Cousins’ interview stops today was with Rob Maaddi (AP Sports), who asked him about his timeline for the offseason and if his achilles will be ready for offseason workouts. Kirk said he indeed expects his surgically repaired tendon to be healed and ready as soon as Organized Team Activities (late May – early June).

Kirk Cousins says he’ll be ready for OTA’s, he’s embracing the uncertainty of his pending free agency and prioritizing winning. pic.twitter.com/1EzhjYq3oE
— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) January 18, 2024

“My expectation is that I’ll be able to practice during OTAs, as normal. But the question will be, is it worth it? And so you have to weigh that a little bit. But my goal would be that I’m saying, ‘I can go,’ and [my trainers/doctors] are going to have to stop me because I feel that good. If I’m not allowed into the full-team drills, I know I can do basically a full-speed practice on the field next to it. That’s pretty much my goal.”
Kirk Cousins – Interview with Rob Maaddi (AP Sports)

Kirk Cousins selling chips and his future to interested parties

Cousins went on to say that, at the minimum, he will be ready to do 7v7 drills by the time OTAs role around. His goals today come not that long after he put out some previous hints that he will be running full speed by the end of February, which happens to be right before free agency starts and draft speculation is spinning at high gear.

Kirk has made it clear that that his next contract will be more about security than it is overall dollars. He believes he can still produce at a franchise QB level and he wants the respect of a multi-year franchise QB contract, even if that only means two guaranteed seasons, given he is approaching the twilight seasons of his career.

Vikings general manager Kwesi-Adofo Mensah has publicly stated that Minnesota’s offseason goal is to bring Kirk Cousins back. But will he prove that to be true at the negotiating table? Is it even Kwesi’s decision, or do the Wilfs have final say? These are all questions that we do not know the answers to… yet.