Cousins out vs. Packers after testing positive for COVID-19

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins will miss Sunday's pivotal contest versus the Green Bay Packers after testing positive for COVID-19 as an unvaccinated player, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The team confirmed it has placed Cousins on the COVID-19 list.

The Vikings enter Week 17 as the No. 8 seed in the NFC, one game out of a wild card. They'll be eliminated from playoff contention if they lose to the Packers and one of these two scenarios comes to fruition:

• Eagles beat Washington
• Saints beat Panthers AND Falcons beat Bills

Minnesota activated backup Sean Mannion from the COVID-19 list shortly after sending Cousins to the reserve. Mannion will start against Green Bay over Kyle Sloter and Kellen Mond, neither of whom has appeared in a regular-season game.

"I think (the players) are going to rally behind Sean," head coach Mike Zimmer said Friday. "They know how important this game is. They believe in Sean."

The NFL and NFLPA modified COVID-19 protocols in light of the latest CDC recommendations, cutting the mandatory isolation period in half from the initial minimum of 10 days. Vaccinated players can test out of isolation ahead of the five-day mark now, but unvaccinated players cannot.

Before the season, Cousins said he was "at peace" with his decision not to get vaccinated and that he had thought about surrounding himself with plexiglass in meeting rooms. There is no guarantee he would've been able to clear COVID-19 protocols in time to face the Packers even if he had been vaccinated.

Cousins has had an efficient season for Minnesota, throwing for 30 touchdowns with seven interceptions.