Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was Kirk Cousins’ position coach when the quarterback entered the league.
Now the two are set to match up on opposite sides again after the Raiders traded Cousins to the Vikings on Tuesday.
LaFleur told reporters at his press conference Wednesday that he expects Cousins to start Sunday’s game between Minnesota and Green Bay.
“Yeah, he’s going to be there. He’s going to start. There’s a lot of confidence in that,” LaFleur said. “Obviously, he’s familiarized himself with their system. Even if he hasn’t, he’s a really intelligent guy and I think he’s played at a high level.”
What made LaFleur raise an eyebrow was the trade compensation, as Minnesota sent a third-round pick to Las Vegas for Cousins.
“I was surprised they didn’t get more for him, honestly — I was shocked at what they traded him for,” LaFleur said. “It was mind boggling to me.”
While Cousins played under Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell in 2023 and 2024, LaFleur said what Cousins has done with the Raiders this year still matters when drawing up this week’s game plan.
“You definitely look at some of them, see what he’s had success with, what he’s comfortable with,” LaFleur said. “Obviously, he has a long track record with that offense with all those years in Minnesota with Kevin. And (there are still) a lot of key pieces that were there with him.”
In nine games for the Raiders this year, Cousins completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 2,340 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
