Sean Mannion is returning to Minnesota. Kirk Cousins‘ former backup will rejoin the Vikings but do so as a member of their practice squad. This comes a day after the Seahawks cut the veteran reserve.
Minnesota was linked to re-upping Mannion earlier this year but opted against doing so, leading the former third-round quarterback pick to Seattle this summer. The Seahawks, however, released Mannion to clear a roster spot for Jake Luton on Wednesday.
The Vikings selected Kellen Mond in this year’s third round, but the Texas A&M product can be viewed as a project. The team has only Cousins and Mond on its active roster. Mannion represents veteran insurance in the event of a Cousins injury or other unavailability this season. Teams can have up to six vested veterans on their 16-man practice squads this year.
A former Rams draftee, Mannion signed two one-year deals with the Vikings over the past two years. Cousins did not miss any time due to injury, keeping Mannion in a similar role to the one he held behind Jared Goff in Los Angeles, but the six-year vet’s presence certainly provided some stability for the Vikings. After both Mond and Cousins missed time due to placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list in August, veteran QB insurance certainly makes sense for the Vikes.
ANYBODY on the planet who follows the Vikings, could see this move coming from miles away once Mannion became available.
I thought Mannion went off to join Saskatchewan of the CFL after originally being dropped by the Vikings. Of course the CFL didn’t operate last year because of Covid so he’s gotten another chance to show something in the NFL.