Kirk Cousins started the 2023 season on a high and looked unstoppable until his Achilles injury put a rest on his potentially record-breaking season.
The Atlanta Falcons then shocked the football world by picking Washington Huskies QB Michael Penix Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft. This was after they had inked a deal worth $180 million with Kirk Cousins that guaranteed him $90 million.
Is Cousins going to play in the preseason opener for Atlanta?
Will Kirk Cousins Take Snaps Against the Miami Dolphins?
The former Vikings star suffered an Achilles tendon tear during the matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 1, 2023, which caused him to miss the rest of the season.
Ahead of the injury, Cousins scored a total of 18 touchdowns and five interceptions while passing for an impressive 2,331 yards in just eight games.
Nine months after his injury, Kirk was medically cleared to get on the field and play in the preseason matchups; however, Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris decided to let his QB1 rest and not risk any more injuries.
During a press conference at training camp last week, Cousins expressed his desire to play in games, but shared that Morris made the executive decision to let him sit this one out.
Many NFL teams try to save their quarterbacks from injury during the preseason, especially Morris, who coached with the Rams for three years before taking the Falcons’ head coach job. The Rams are widely known to be an extremely cautious team, so it comes as no surprise that Morris decided Cousins will not play in the preseason.
One of the most important storylines that could arise from Kirk’s absence from the preseason is that Penix, a 2023 Heisman Trophy finalist, will be taking center stage and starting for the Falcons.
Cousins, who will turn 36 on Aug. 19, might have a thing or two to worry about if Penix shines throughout the preseason games.
The starting quarterback position this summer is definitely Cousins’, which is also “written on the walls,” as reaffirmed by Falcons QB3 Taylor Heinicke. However, Atlanta’s succession planning might cut short Cousins’ tenure with the franchise.
Taking the time off and not risking anything only sets the stage for Cousins to pick up where he left off in the 2024 season.
