Vikings fans may not be the only ones frustrated with their $84 million quarterback.
Wide receiver Adam Thielen appeared to be airing some of those grievances to Kirk Cousins on Monday night during the Vikings’ 21-7 loss to the Seahawks, in which they fell closer to missing the playoffs, just a year after going 13-3 and reaching the NFC Championship without their once-prized free-agent quarterback.
The sideline conversation — which Cousins cut off by walking away from it, in footage from The Big Lead — came after he didn’t throw to an open Thielen in the end zone on a fourth-and-goal from the 1. Instead, Cousins threw to tight end Kyle Rudolph in traffic, and the pass fell incomplete for a turnover on downs midway through the fourth quarter with the Vikings trailing 6-0.
Cousins had targeted Thielen on second-and-goal from the 2 but failed to connect with his leading receiver.
Thielen finished the game with five receptions for 70 yards, but he was not even targeted until the third quarter, as the Vikings struggled to get anything going on offense while falling to 6-6-1. Cousins finished the night 20-for-33 for 208 yards, one touchdown and a fumble.
It’s certainly not what Minnesota had in mind when it signed Cousins to a three-year, $84 million contract — all of it fully guaranteed. He reportedly turned down a $90 million offer from the Jets, who are likely now thankful for how it all played out. They won’t be going to the playoffs either, but the Jets have Sam Darnold and even more money to spend this upcoming offseason.