Feb 6, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Kirk Cousins on the Ladies of Fox Sports Radio show set at the Super Bowl LX media center at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Kirk Cousins led the Minnesota Vikings for six seasons from 2018 to 2023 as the QB1, resulting in two playoff trips and one postseason win. Now, the stars are aligning for a reunion. Cousins’s current employer, the Atlanta Falcons, will reportedly release him in the next few weeks, and NFL media was not shy last weekend about linking him to Minnesota.
Minnesota doesn’t need a reunion to make the quarterback rumor cycle messy, but Cousins’ situation now sits in the middle of the QB market.
No stranger to the Vikings’ quarterback rumor mill, The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini led the charge, connecting Cousins to Minnesota for a reunion contract.
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How Kirk Cousins Fits Into the Vikings’ 2026 Quarterback Conversation
The divisive Cousins might be back.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins walks off the field at Levi’s Stadium following the final whistle, with the moment dated Oct. 19, 2025, as Atlanta wrapped a road matchup in Santa Clara while Cousins processed late drives, sideline conversations, and the aftermath of a tightly contested game against San Francisco under bright lights and heavy scrutiny. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Cousins to Be Released
CBS Sports‘ Cody Nagel reported over the weekend, “The Atlanta Falcons are barreling toward another quarterback reset, and this one may finally bring clarity — not just for the future of the position, but for Kirk Cousins’ next act as well.”
“According to ESPN, the Falcons are expected to release Cousins before the start of the new league year in March, a move that would allow the veteran quarterback to choose his next destination — or decide whether he wants one at all — while reopening the quarterback picture in Atlanta.”
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Strangely, Atlanta will need a Cousins-like quarterback in 2026, mainly to get them over the hump of Michael Penix Jr.’s ACL recovery. But it looks less and less likely that Cousins will fill that role.
Russini on Cousins
Then, the fun part. Russini formally attached the Vikings’ name to the upcoming Cousins sweepstakes.
She explained, “Now comes the interesting part. Cousins has made no secret of his desire to become a full-time starter again. But Atlanta needs a capable backup, especially one who might have to play early as Michael Penix Jr. works his way back from his third ACL surgery. There’s also the Kevin Stefanski factor.”
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“Atlanta’s new head coach served as Cousins’ OC for one season in Minnesota. I’m watching to see if the Falcons find any parties interested in their backup. Speaking of those Vikings, one league source speculated that Cousins could be an option there, given his history with Kevin O’Connell and Minnesota’s desire to bring in competition for young J.J. McCarthy. All the while, the days tick away to March 13.”
Anytime Cousins has been remotely available via trade or otherwise in the last two years, the Vikings always surface as a landing spot. Like clockwork. The 2026 offseason is no different.
CBS Sports‘ Tyler Sullivan also name-dropped the Pittsburgh Steelers as a possible destination for Cousins last week, noting, “The jury is still out on whether or not Aaron Rodgers will be back for his 22nd season in the NFL or if he’ll opt for retirement as he’s alluded to throughout the 2025 season.”
“If he does call it quits, the Steelers aren’t in a strong position to find a quarterback of the future at the 2026 NFL Draft, owning the 21st overall pick. With that in mind, the front office could do what they’ve done over the last few offseasons and bring in veteran quarterbacks.”
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The San Francisco 49ers (if Mac Jones is traded) and the Arizona Cardinals could also make sense for Cousins’ services.
Sullivan concluded on Cousins to PIT: “They did it with Russell Wilson in 2024 and Aaron Rodgers last year, and it would seem like Cousins fits that similar profile they’ve targeted in the past. With Mike McCarthy now installed as head coach, Cousins’ skillset would also seem to fit his system pretty seamlessly.”
A QB2 in MIN? Or QB1?
If one assumes that Cousins-to-Minnesota is a real possibility, the fun part becomes analyzing and predicting his job title.
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For years, Cousins unabashedly led the Vikings at QB1, but a reunion wouldn’t carry the exact same stakes. O’Connell could do three things with a freshly signed Cousins on his roster:
Concede that Cousins will likely be the QB1 in Week 1 of 2026
Toss Cousins into a summer camp battle against McCarthy
Sign him strictly as a contingency plan at QB2, the same role Cousins held heading into 2025 with the Falcons
The last time the Vikings employed Cousins under center (2023), he ranked as the NFL’s fifth-best passer in EPA per play. But in 2025, Cousins ranked 30th of 35 qualifying quarterbacks.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell surveys the field at U.S. Bank Stadium during second-quarter action, with the scene set on Dec. 25, 2025, as Minnesota battled Detroit while O’Connell monitored adjustments, communication, and situational flow amid a physical divisional game on Christmas Day under intense crowd noise, late stakes, and playoff implications looming. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
It’s worth differentiating that 2026 Cousins won’t necessarily play like 2023 Cousins; he’s since suffered a torn Achilles tendon and has naturally aged three years.
Finally Cheap
The perk of any Cousins signing this go-round is damn near a first of its kind regarding the man. He’s basically been paid by the 2026 Falcons; his next team will sign him for NFL pennies.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins releases a throw at Allegiant Stadium as pressure closes, with the play occurring on Dec. 16, 2024, during a road game in Las Vegas while Cousins challenged coverage, navigated traffic, and tested timing against the Raiders’ defense in the second half amid mounting urgency, tight windows, and late-game risk. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
In the past, Vikings loyalists divided into camps over whether Cousins was good at all, and his sizable contract always irritated a significant portion of the fan base. This time, that resentment won’t apply. He’ll be similar to Russell Wilson joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, already compensated by the Denver Broncos, so his subsequent deal need not break the bank.
Will the same crowd that despised Cousins and his contract from 2018 to 2023 suddenly warm up to him because he’s affordable?
United States skier Lindsey Vonn provided a lengthy update after her crash during the alpine ski women’s downhill at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics resulted in a leg fracture on on Sunday.
Vonn, 41, was already skiing with a torn ACL, but she needed to be airlifted off the mountain in a scary scene. She posted on her Instagram on Monday, saying her “Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would.”
“It wasn’t a story book ending or a fairy (tale), it was just life,” her detailed caption read. I dared to dream and had worked so hard to achieve it. Because in Downhill ski racing the difference between a strategic line and a catastrophic injury can be as small as 5 inches.”
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This is a developing story. More to come.
Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has declared his ambition to coach Spanish giants Real Madrid in the future.
Chelle has been in charge of Nigeria since the beginning of last year and has enjoyed a decent spell with the national team. The Franco-Malian tactician has introduced a unique style of play that has helped several players perform well and deliver solid displays.
Although he failed to guide Nigeria to a 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff spot, Chelle led the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Many football legends praised the team’s performances, with some saying Nigeria played the best football at the tournament and were unlucky to lose on penalties in the semi-final.
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In a recent interview, the 48-year-old coach revealed his biggest dream is to become Real Madrid’s first African coach. He admitted that the job would be difficult to achieve, as only a few African coaches have managed top clubs in Europe.
Real Madrid are regarded as one of the biggest clubs in the world and have been led by some of the most successful managers in football history. Chelle will need time and major achievements in his career to reach that level.
For now, the Nigeria Football Federation will be keen to keep him, especially with his contract running until next year, as they look to secure his long-term future with the Super Eagles.
Lindsey Vonn’s dad said Monday he hopes the horrific crash that landed the Olympic legend in the hospital at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games will mark “the end of her career.”
Alan Kildow told The Associated Press he wasn’t sure whether he actually has any say in the matter. Vonn broke her leg during the final run of the alpine ski women’s downhill event. She crashed in the first sector and needed to be airlifted off the mountain.
United States’ Lindsey Vonn poses with her career medals with her father Alan Kildow, in the finish area after the women’s downhill race, at the alpine ski World Championships in Are, Sweden, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati, File)
“She’s 41 years old and this is the end of her career,” he told The Associated Press. “There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it.”
Kildow didn’t divulge any details about the injuries but mentioned her emotional state.
“She’s a very strong individual,” Kildow said. “She knows physical pain and she understands the circumstances that she finds herself in. And she’s able to handle it. Better than I expected. She’s a very, very strong person. And so I think she’s handling it real well.”
Vonn’s family was on hand to watch her try to pull off a miracle – win an Olympic medal in one of the fastest sports the Games has to offer all while dealing with a ruptured ACL.
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United States’ Lindsey Vonn’s father Alan Kildow is interviewed ahead of an alpine ski women’s downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Dampf)
But the hopeful nature of the day quickly turned to somber feelings.
“First, the shock and the horror of the whole thing, seeing a crash like that,” Kildow said of what he felt watching the scene unfold. “It can be dramatic and traumatic. You’re just horrified at what those kinds of impacts have.
“You can go into a shock an emotional psychological shock,” he added. “Because it’s difficult to just accept what’s happened. But she’s well cared for. … And the USOC and the U.S. Ski team have a very, very top-notch doctor with her and she is being very well cared for here in Italy.”
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Kildow put the cause of the crash more on Vonn trying to push herself to the edge than the ACL.
Vonn is recovering in a hospital in Treviso. She holds the record of 12 World Cup victories in Cortina, Italy, and didn’t seem like she missed a beat when she returned to the circuit last year following a six-year absence.
United States’ Lindsey Vonn is airlifted away after a crash during an alpine ski women’s downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Teams on a bit of a roll clash when the Milwaukee Bucks meet the Orlando Magic in a key Eastern Conference matchup on Monday night. Milwaukee is coming off a 105-99 win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday, while Indiana defeated the Utah Jazz 120-117 on Saturday. The Bucks (21-29), who are fourth in the Central Division, have won three in a row and are 9-17 on the road in 2025-26. The Magic (27-24), who lead the Southeast Division, have won two in a row and are 16-8 on their home floor this season. Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) remains out for Milwaukee.
Tipoff from Kia Center in Orlando, Fla., is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Orlando is a 10.5-point favorite in the latest Bucks vs. Magic odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 220.5. Before making any Magic vs. Bucks picks, check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model enters Week 16 of the 2025-26 NBA season on a sizzling 38-16 roll on top-rated NBA spread picks dating back to last season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
After 10,000 simulations of Bucks vs. Magic, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (218.5). The Over has hit in seven of the last 10 head-to-head meetings, including each of the last four. The Over has also hit in two of the last three Milwaukee games, and in four of the last six Orlando games. The Bucks are 4-6 against the spread in their last 10 games, while the Magic are 3-7 ATS in their last 10.
The SportsLine model is projecting Milwaukee’s Ryan Rollins to score 17.7 points on average and be one of five Bucks players to score 13.3 or more points. Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, meanwhile, is projected to have 23 points as six Magic players score 10.4 points or more.
Jack Grealish has confirmed he will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a stress fracture, with the injury also set to rule him out of England’s World Cup squad
22:12, 09 Feb 2026Updated 22:14, 09 Feb 2026
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Manchester City loanee Jack Grealish has confirmed that he will be out for the remainder of the season due to a stress fracture requiring surgery. The 30-year-old quickly endeared himself to Everton fans after joining on loan during the summer transfer window, but his campaign on Merseyside has been cut short.
Grealish took to Instagram to share a photo of himself in hospital, accompanied by a caption: “Didn’t want the season to end like this but that’s football, gutted. Surgery done and now all focus on getting back fit. I know for sure I will come back fitter, stronger and better than before.
“The support I’ve had since coming to this unbelievable club has meant the world to me. The staff, my teammates and especially the fans have been incredible and I absolutely love representing this club.
“I’ll be backing the lads all the way and doing everything I can to get back as soon as possible. Thank you again for all the love, it means so much. UTFT”.
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Among those responding in the comments were current and former team-mates. City striker Erling Haaland posted two blue hearts and a praying emoji.
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Everton team-mate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, another summer signing, replied with a blue heart and a message reading: “back soon. ” England colleague James Maddison, who is also recovering from an injury, responded with three white heart emojis.
The injury leaves the player’s future hanging in the balance. Everton hold a £50million option to purchase the midfielder from City this summer, though whether they’ll exercise it remains unclear, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding his recovery.
Speaking earlier in the season, Pep Guardiola commented on Grealish’s future: “I think he has a contract for one more year with us,” he said.
“The important thing is he is back. He is a massive influence in the Everton games,
“After what’s happened, maybe Manchester City want him back, but I don’t know. Many things are still going to happen.
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“We’ll see. The important thing is he is playing again, a lot of minutes.
“This is the standard. I’m happy, really, honestly, that he’s back in, trying his best.”.
Beyond hampering his Premier League prospects and transfer situation, the surgery will almost certainly rule him out of England’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, even should he recuperate in time.
His performances at Everton had sparked speculation about a potential England recall. His last appearance for the Three Lions came in October 2024 under caretaker manager Lee Carsley.
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After the sting subsides and the New England fan base has had time to lick its wounds, those fans will turn the page and begin thinking about next season. When they do, they’ll ponder the following question: Can the Patriots return to the Super Bowl next year?
Despite how things unfolded Sunday, the answer is an unequivocal “yes.”
New England’s level of success this season was unexpected — the Patriots were 4-13 in 2023 and 2024 — and it’s certainly reasonable to expect the team to take another step forward next year.
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New England will lose some players to free agency, but none who you would call “core” contributors. Edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, an unrestricted free agent, may be the best of the bunch.
“I reminded them that we’re 307 days into what hopefully is a long, successful relationship and program. It’s OK to be disappointed and upset together. … Every year, somebody’s going to lose this game. We have to remember what it feels like and make sure it’s not repeatable.”
The quarterback/coach combo is in place with Drake Maye and Vrabel, and the defense has cornerstone pieces with cornerback Christian Gonzalez, 23, and tackle Milton Williams, 26, both of whom are in their prime.
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Of course, to make another lengthy playoff run, Maye will have to perform like he did in the regular season — not the postseason. Maye was sacked 21 times and had four passes intercepted in four playoff games.
“You’re going to have times like this and it’s how you bounce back,” Maye said. “All those guys in the locker room are going to use this as fuel and I’d go to war with those guys any time, any day, anywhere. It’s motivation to get back here and not have this feeling and have what they’re feeling out there. … Can’t wait to get back and play in another one.”
The New England fan base can also take solace in the fact that the team’s front office earned high marks in both free agency and the draft last season.
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Sunday’s outcome certainly highlighted New England’s shortcomings and will undoubtedly influence what team management does to help the roster.
Even with a low draft position, the Patriots should be able to bolster their offensive line and add a much-needed playmaker to their offense. Those two areas are arguably where the team needs the most upgrading.
The schedule will be more difficult next season, but the Patriots play in the weaker of the two conferences. Two of the top teams in the AFC — Buffalo and Baltimore — will each have a first-year head coach next season, and the AFC East is certainly manageable. It always helps to play the New York Jets twice a year.
DraftKings lists New England at +1200 to reach next year’s Super Bowl, behind Seattle (+950), the Los Angeles Rams (+950), and Buffalo (+1000).
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It shouldn’t surprise anybody if the Patriots get there.
Wikki Tourists Technical Adviser Abdul Maikaba has stepped down from his role with immediate effect, citing internal disunity and concerns for his personal safety.
In a resignation letter dated February 9, 2026, and addressed to the club chairman, Maikaba said constant disagreements among stakeholders made it difficult for the team to achieve its objectives.
The experienced coach also revealed that he had received several threats to his life while carrying out his duties, both through physical confrontations and on social media. He said the hostile environment forced him to resign after consulting with his family.
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According to Maikaba, the situation around the club had become unsafe for him to continue in the role.
Despite the circumstances, he thanked the club’s management for the opportunity to serve, describing Wikki Tourists as a great club and wishing them success in the future.
His resignation came a day after Wikki Tourists played out a dramatic 4-4 draw with neighbours Katsina United in their Nigeria Premier Football League matchday 25 clash in Bauchi.
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Maikaba is regarded as one of the experienced coaches in Nigerian football, having handled several top-flight clubs during his career.
There has been a major update on WWE star Dominik Mysterio’s in-ring return. The Judgment Day star is the reigning Intercontinental Champion, but has not been able to defend the title as of late due to injury.
According to a new update from Fightful Select, the promotion is hopeful to have Mysterio return to action in the near future. Mysterio has been out with an injury since December 20, 2025, and has not defended the Intercontinental Championship since winning it from John Cena at Survivor Series last year.
Thanks for the submission!
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Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio are in a storyline relationship on WWE television. Morgan missed several months due to injury before her return at Survivor Series 2025 to help Mysterio win the Intercontinental Championship. She also won the Women’s Royal Rumble match at the WWE PLE last weekend in Saudi Arabia and will be challenging for a major title later this year at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.
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Popular WWE star reveals if she still trusts Dominik Mysterio
Women’s Royal Rumble winner Liv Morgan recently shared whether she still trusted Dominik Mysterio.
Speaking on TMZ’s Inside the Ring podcast, the former champion stated that she still trusted Mysterio and accepted her Judgment Day stablemate for who he was. She also claimed that the Intercontinental Champion only betrayed people who did not fully accept him.
“What do you mean do I still trust Dominik? When did I not trust Dominik? Not with me. Not with me… No, I do know. See, what had happened was, is that all these people that Dominik turned on, they didn’t accept him for who he was at the end of the day. I accept Daddy Dom exactly. I like how he is, and so that’s why we don’t worry about those things,” she said.
LIV MORGAN AND DOMINIK MYSTERIO ARE BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER #WWERAW
Dominik Mysterio won the Intercontinental Championship for the first time by pinning The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor at WrestleMania 41 in a Fatal 4-Way match. It will be fascinating to see what WWE has planned for the 28-year-old on the road to WrestleMania.
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