Playing the Vikings for the past six years meant preparing to face Kirk Cousins. Not anymore.
For the first time since 2018, there is a new starting quarterback wearing Vikings purple.
The Giants on Sunday get to see Sam Darnold in a different uniform in his first regular-season appearance for his new team.
“Sam’s a good friend, and I’m always rooting for him, [but] not this week, but throughout his career,’’ Giants right guard Greg Van Roten told The Post. “I’m happy that he’s finding success. I know what it’s like to kind of bounce around a little bit. We’re friends, and I want him to do well professionally, just not week one against us.’’
Van Roten and Darnold were Jets teammates in 2020, Darnold’s third and final season with the team that made him the No. 3-overall pick in the 2018 draft.
Darnold went 2-10 in his 12 starts, with head coach Adam Gase fired after a 2-14 season.
“He was in a tough situation in New York,’’ Van Roten said. “A couple of different coordinators, different coaches. Stability is very important in the NFL, continuity is very important and to not have that as a young player can stunt your growth and development.’’
Darnold moved to the Panthers, where he went 8-9 in his starts in 2021 and 2022. He spent the 2023 season on the 49ers bench, learning but seldomly playing in Kyle Shanahan’s robust system.
“I think it was good for him to be around Shanahan for a year,’’ Van Roten said, “and now he’s with another really good quarterback-friendly kind of coach in a system that’s been shown to be successful if you can run it that right way.’’
The Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy out of Michigan with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft. McCarthy is lost for the season with a torn meniscus in his right knee, and coach Kevin O’Connell has to turn to Darnold, who at 27 gets another shot to run an offense.
He is 21-35 as a starting quarterback.
The Giants faced stud WR Justin Jefferson twice in the 2022 season.
He caught 12 passes for 133 yards and one touchdown in a Dec. 24 Vikings victory, and a few weeks later was limited to seven catches for 47 yards in the Giants’ NFC wild-card victory in Minneapolis.
CB Adoree’ Jackson was the defender mostly on Jefferson in that postseason game, and he was re-signed last week.
The Vikings also have WR Jordan Addison, who had 10 touchdown receptions as a rookie in 2023, but will be without Pro Bowl TE T.J. Hockenson, who led the Vikings last season with 90 catches.
He tore his ACL against the Giants late last season and is on the physically unable to perform list.
A key for the Giants: dealing with RB Aaron Jones.
He surpassed 100 rushing yards in his final five games last season for the Packers, including two playoff games.
The Vikings gave him a one-year deal for $7 million to improve on a rushing offense that was 29th in the league last season.
Two linebackers, Carter Coughlin and Ty Summers, were elevated from the practice squad, likely to fill special teams roles in the game. LB Curtis Bolton was released.
