Vikings' Kirk Cousins has torn Achilles, to miss rest of season - ESPN

EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings remained in active discussions Monday about the best way to move forward following the loss of quarterback Kirk Cousins, who suffered a season-ending tear of his right Achilles tendon in Sunday's 24-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

An MRI confirmed the tear, the Vikings announced Monday afternoon. But speaking shortly thereafter, coach Kevin O'Connell declined to name a starter for Sunday's game at the Atlanta Falcons.

He indicated the team would add a quarterback in the next day or so, and would not rule out the possibility that the newcomer could ultimately become their starter for the bulk of the season.

«We're still working through that,» O'Connell said.

Rookie Jaren Hall replaced Cousins on Sunday at Lambeau Field, completing 3 of 4 passes for 23 yards while also losing a fumble on a sack. O'Connell said he called passing plays for Hall in what would otherwise have been a run-heavy portion of the game largely because he wanted to see how Hall would perform, knowing even then that Cousins was almost certainly lost for the season.

«I did want to see Jaren go in the game and function,» O'Connell said. «A lot of the feedback that I got from guys in the huddle is that he was outstanding calling plays. Cadence, snap counts, center-quarterback exchange, those are all things that go through your mind.… I was using some of those opportunities to show Jaren my confidence in him, but also give him some opportunities to play quarterback.

»… We'll continue Jaren's process of getting him ready to go each and every week, if he ends up being the guy."

Veteran backup Nick Mullens, who has been on injured reserve since Oct. 11 because of a back injury, is eligible to return as early as Week