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Though franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins was the driving force behind the Vikings turning their season around over the past month, star pass rusher Danielle Hunter and rookie receiver Jordan Addison did their fair share of work, as well.

As a result, Hunter was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month, and Addison was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month.

The monthly awards were very much deserved, as Hunter had five sacks and a pair of force fumbled in October, and Addison had five receiving touchdowns, emerging as a focal point of the offense with star receiver Justin Jefferson on injured reserve.

Tork Mason / USA Today Sports

That production from both players helped the Vikings finish 4-1 last month, scoring wins over the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers. Not only are the Vikings now 4-4 and right back in the NFC North race, they have won three straight games, the longest active streak among all NFC teams.

Not surprisingly, Hunter downplayed his personal success, instead crediting his teammates for putting him in a position to succeed.

鈥淭hink about all the stuff that we鈥檝e been through,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淛ust going out there and playing with my teammates means a lot.鈥�

That wasn鈥檛 necessarily a guarantee for Hunter moving forward with his name attached to rumors at the trade deadline. Did he pay attention to the noise?

鈥淣ot really,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 always knew I was going to be here.鈥�

After suffering a torn Achilles at Lambeau Field last Sunday, Cousins will likely lean heavily on right tackle Brian O鈥橬eill throughout the recovery process. If anybody can empathize with what Cousins is going through, it鈥檚 O鈥橬eill, who suffered a very similar injury at Lambeau Field last season.

鈥淚鈥檝e been talking to him a bunch throughout it,鈥� O鈥橬eill said. 鈥淚 know he鈥檚 going to attack it the right way.鈥�

As for the way Cousins has continued to be positive over the past few days, O鈥橬eill said he wouldn鈥檛 expect anything less.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 him,鈥� O鈥橬eill said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen it for five and a half years.鈥�

The plan is for rookie quarterback Jaren Hall to start for the Vikings this Sunday鈥檚 game against the Atlanta Falcons, with newly acquired journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs serving as the backup. As much as head coach Kevin O鈥機onnell seems to have confidence that he will be able to get Dobbs ready to go, he noted the Vikings also have veteran quarterback Sean Mannion on the practice squad.

鈥淗e is as prepared a quarterback as I have been around,鈥� O鈥機onnell said of Mannion. 鈥淭his guy is going to be an unbelievable coach some day. It is because of his preparation and being ready when called upon. If we had to go that route, I would have a ton of confidence is Sean to be up and available.鈥�