The Minnesota Vikings have fired Ed Donatell as defensive coordinator. 

Although they won the second-most regular season games in team history, the Vikings' defense was one of the worst in franchise history. It finished the season ranked No. 28 in points allowed (25.1) and No. 31 in yards allowed (388.7).

Kevin O'Connell hired Donatell in part for his connection to the 3-4 scheme popularized by longtime NFL defensive coach Vic Fangio.

Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah expects Kirk Cousins to remain the team's starting quarterback next season.

Cousins, 34, signed an extension last offseason through the 2023 season. The question now appears to be whether he will receive another short-term extension or play next season in the final year of his deal.

"It's our expectation that he'll be our quarterback," Adofo-Mensah said. "I can't say exactly how that would look. We have everything at our disposal. We'll consider all those things just like we would with everyone else on the roster."

Cousins is set to earn $30 million and count $36.25 million against the team's salary cap in 2023. An extension would make it more difficult to move on from him as he moves into his late 30s, but it likely would lower his 2023 cap hit.

The Minnesota Vikings have placed right tackle Brian O'Neill on injured reserve.

On Monday, Kevin O'Connell confirmed that O'Neill had a "pretty significant" calf injury.

O'Neill suffered the injury Sunday in the Vikings' 41-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers.