Much of the Falcons’ offseason quarterback approach has been dominated by the team’s decision to use a first-round pick on Michael Penix Jr. despite signing Kirk Cousins in free agency. The latter’s rehab from a torn Achilles remains a key storyline for the team, however. 
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Cousins has provided encouraging updates throughout the offseason, and he remains on track to be at 100% with plenty of time to spare before Week 1. The 35-year-old took part in OTAs and minicamp, although in the absence of padded practices those events offer a limited opportunity to evaluate players’ true recovery progress. A target in advance of the preseason has emerged regarding when Cousins aims to be back to full strength.
The four-time Pro Bowler hopes to be recovered by August 1, as detailed by D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cousins and the Falcons will no doubt proceed with caution once training camp opens later this month, and team and player have plenty of time to establish a training camp regimen. With Penix destined to begin his career as Cousins’ understudy, the latter should have first-team reps to himself when he is on the field during camp. Cousins is also interested in seeing preseason action, however.
“It feels like a long ways away,” the Michigan State product said. “But I think it’s always a great test to evaluate where we are as an offense, as a system. I would love to get in and play [in the preseason] if we can. We’ll have to see as we get there where we are. But, you know, it would be great to get out there and kind of have that full dress rehearsal.”
Pending how head coach Raheem Morris and the Falcons’ staff view Cousins’ progress, the team’s other signal-callers remain likely to see most (if not all) of the work during the preseason. Starters at many positions – including quarterback, especially in the case of veterans – rarely see playing time during exhibition games these days given the risk of injury. Cousins could use limited preseason action as a means of confirming his return to full health once he reaches that point during the summer, however.
Atlanta made a four-year investment in Cousins which includes $100MM in guarantees. The team’s financial commitment – not to mention the violation of the league’s tampering policies which took place after an agreement had been reached – demonstrates their willingness to improve from the Desmond Ridder–Taylor Heinicke setup under center. The latter member of that tandem is still in the fold, and he is likely to see preseason action this summer. It will be interesting to see if Cousins joins him in that respect.
Cousins is there 2 years maximum. 1st rounders do not ride the pine these days, exception given to Jordan Love, but not every team has a HOF QB that’s still in his prime ahead of them. Cousins isn’t great, but he’s not the worst either so hopefully he’ll have a good year and make good trade bait.
Rookie QBs should ride the bench for at least the 1st year, like Mahommes and Love did. Learn the playback, speed of the game, amd ease into it. We see way more fail than succeed.
Wouldn’t it be great if 4th rounder Kirk beat out both the 2nd (RG) and 8th 1st round picks in drafts. Captain Kirk rules NFLPA contracts for sure, some +$330M in NFL earnings alone with a 1-4 playoff record!
Name another player that’s done it better.
10–7
Honesty, I’d take that. Good shot at the playoffs with that record….I was thinking they’d go 11-6 in year 1 with the new staff/QB honeymoon. Then go 9-8 year 2 and they make the switch to Penix.
Maybe!!
I don’t see the Falcons having the big breakout year that the sportsbooks are calling for. Cousins is now at that age where he is at high risk to get re-injured. There will be no Justin Jefferson clone to pass to either. The NFC South should be an interesting dogfight though. I like the Bucs to repeat as division winners as Baker Mayfield should be even better in his second year in Tampa Bay.