NFL fans are growing even more concerned for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins after a new video of him in practice shows that the 36-year-old is clearly not one hundred percent.
Kirk Cousins had a flat debut with the Falcons on Sunday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Steelers, completing just 16 of 26 pass attempts for 155 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in an 18-10 loss.
Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in a Week 8 road win over the Green Bay Packers last year. Confident in his recovery schedule, the Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year deal worth $180 million in free agency, including $100 million in guarantees.
Maria Martin of 11Alive News in Atlanta shared a video of Cousins practicing on Thursday, four days ahead of the Falcons’ Week 2 road contest against the Philadelphia Eagles on “Monday Night Football.”
It’s clear that Kirk Cousins still isn’t close to 100 percent, and fans on X/Twitter certainly noticed it:
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
The Falcons stunned everybody by drafting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall, a move that Cousins admitted surprised him as well. If Cousins is indeed still feeling the pain and not able to operate the offense efficiently, head coach Raheem Morris may have to turn to the rookie.
The Falcons were held back by mediocre quarterback play in 2022 and 2023, prompting GM Terry Fontenot to dish out the largest contract in franchise history. With Cousins under contract for three more years, Atlanta might want to play it safe and rest the four-time Pro Bowler if he struggles again next week.
Kirk Cousins Can Be A Difference For Falcons If He’s Healthy
Cousins gets far more criticism than most other NFL quarterbacks, but his Pro Bowl-caliber numbers speak for themselves. This Falcons squad is arguably the best team he’s played for, seeing how his old Washington and Minnesota teams were held back by mediocre-to-terrible defensive units.
If Cousins can get close to his peak form, the Falcons are the team to beat in the NFC South. And they might even emerge as a bonafide Super Bowl contender in a conference where San Francisco and Detroit are getting most of the attention.
