Kirk Cousins Is Back
Kirk Cousins has returned to Atlanta Falcons’ operations after skipping organized team activities (OTAs) altogether.
Kirk Cousins returned this week after a couple of weeks of suspense regarding his next steps.
His absence at OTAs did not align with his typical modus operandi, causing folks to wonder if Cousins would stage a holdout indefinitely.
He will not. Cousins is back in the summer mix for the Falcons.
Kirk Cousins Returns for Mandatory Minicamp
NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero tweeted Tuesday morning, “Kirk Cousins has reported to Falcons minicamp, per source.”
The Falcons will uplift second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. this season, a decision that isn’t very debatable. Last year, Cousins entered the summer as the QB1, with Penix Jr. eyeing the big job, which he formally took over last December when Cousins struggled and the Falcons’ temporary winning ways faceplanted.
Cousins hasn’t embarked on a summer as a team’s QB2 since 2014, so it’s a brave new world for the soon-to-be 37-year-old who led the Vikings from 2018 to 2023.
The Mystery Is Solved
When Cousins dipped out of OTAs in late May, his non-participation prompted speculation about his future. Many believed the Falcons would release Cousins this offseason, fully leaning into the Penix Jr. era, but he’s remained on the roster despite a chunky contract — another Cousins modus operandi.
Trade theories almost emerged from OTAs, with some believing Cousins could he shipped to the New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, or even the Vikings. However, the Saints are a divisional rival of the Falcons, making a trade taboo. The Steelers signed Aaron Rodgers this week. The Browns have about six quarterbacks. And the Vikings are fully invested in J.J. McCarthy.
At least for now, Cousins-themed trade rumors will subside — probably until an NFL team’s QB1 gets hurt at some point down the line.
Cousins’ Remarks at Minicamp
Upon arriving at mandatory minicamp, Cousins told reporters, “Obviously, you would love to play. But I am not going to dwell on things that are not reality. That’s not the situation I am in. So, it’s better spent to be focused on the situation I am in, controlling what you can control. I think that is the right mindset to have. We are moving forward now.”
“Right now, it’s being in the situation I am in and being the best I can. And hopefully in February, we — as an organization — are holding up the Lombardi Trophy. And how we do that is more important as a team that we do that, some way, some how. That’s where the focus has to be: That we as an organization win a championship, and each one of us individually has to do our part in that to get there.”
The verbiage basically sounds like Cousins had no other choice but to be a team player, despite a bit of disgruntlement over a backup role.
Cousins on Last Year’s Injury
The former Viking also opined on last year’s injury status. Cousins stated, “As the season ended last year and I started to get in and work on my body, having the time to do that, I felt like I thought I was much better than I was. I think you learn that as you improve. As you make improvements, you realize, ‘Oh, I wasn’t fully back, and I am still making a lot of improvements here. The strength was there, but mobility was the issue.”
“I think when you look at the way the season was going, and that hit, and kind of where things went after that, it feels like it was an inflection point. But if we were to watch the tape together, I can’t sit here and blame every mistake I made on that. It’s somewhere in the middle. I’ve sprained my elbow before. I’ve sprained my shoulder before. I have dealt with sprains in my ankle.”
Cousins tore his Achilles as a member of the Vikings in October 2023. He claimed to be 100% ahead of 2024, his first season with the Falcons.
He added, “So, what I was feeling was no different than what I felt in other years — but I think the combination of the three, maybe, was the part that I didn’t quite understand and almost how it all works together in the one.”
What about a Trade?
Falcons reporter Tori McElhaney detailed Cousins’ trade status, too: “It has been put on the record that Cousins has had conversations with Falcons leadership about what his future could hold as well as his request to be a starting quarterback in this league.”
“Back at the Annual League Meetings in April, Morris said the Falcons would not stand in the way of Cousins doing so if something (i.e. a trade) presented itself that benefitted both parties. Cousins confirmed those conversations were had, beginning in January and going through much of the pre-draft offseason. They have all but ceased since April, though.”
If traded, some team must eat a sizable portion of Cousins’ four-year, $180 million contract.
McElhaney concluded, “So, conversations about the future have dwindled, but what does that mean for Cousins? Is he content being the backup? Does he want to be a starter somewhere else? Cousins was asked specifically if he would like to play for another team, and though it was obvious Cousins wants another chance to be a starter somewhere, that’s not what the situation at hand is seeing as that opportunity hasn’t arisen.”
Cousins ranks 21st all-time in passing yards with 42,979, sandwiched between Dan Fouts and Derek Carr.
You must be logged in to post a comment.