Kirk Cousins “Highly Likely” to Return to the Field on Sunday
For six seasons, Kirk Cousins was the starting quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings.
There were plenty of ups and downs throughout that stretch, but it included two playoff appearances in 2019 and 2022. However, after the 2023 season, Cousins decided it was time for a change of scenery, and he signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
Now, after going the entire first seven weeks of the 2025 season without making a start, it’s looking like Cousins is going to get back on the field this weekend.
Kirk Cousins: Week 8 Starter?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter made the report on Saturday, tweeting, “ESPN Sources: Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is “highly likely” to start Sunday’s game vs. the Dolphins as Michael Penix recovers from a bone bruise to his knee. Penix was limited at practice all week and Cousins worked with the first-team offense, gearing up to start Sunday.”
Ironically, the report came forth on the 10-year anniversary of Cousins leading Washington to a 31-30 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015. After Washington fell down 24-0, Cousins ran for a touchdown in the second quarter and threw for three touchdowns in the second half, including the game-sealing TD to Jordan Reed with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
And thus, the legendary “You like that?!” quote was born.
The win vaulted Cousins into a full-time starting role in Washington before he signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2018.
Cousins got a bit of a plot twist when he signed a four-year contract with the Falcons in 2024 though. Atlanta decided to draft Michael Penix with the eighth overall pick, and after Cousins threw 16 interceptions in 14 starts during 2024, Atlanta very quickly turned the starting job over to Penix.
It’s belonged to Penix ever since, but with the second-year QB battling a bone bruise on his knee, his status for Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins is now in question.
Cousins did get into one game this season as he took over down the stretch of Atlanta’s 30-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers. He completed five of his seven passes for 29 yards.
Atlanta currently sits at 3-3 and in third place in the NFC South, but a win and a Panthers loss would vault them into second place and firmly in the playoff hunt heading into the second half of the season.
We’ll see if a 37-year-old Cousins can get the job done.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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