After a dozen campaigns in the NFL, quarterback Kirk Cousins was eager for new surroundings in 2024. Still, his recent debut in an Atlanta Falcons uniform – the one the team paid him $180 million to wear – was less than ideal.
Last week, Cousins and Atlanta lost their home opener to a scrappy Pittsburgh Steelers team. It was a one-possession game, but the Falcons’ offense mustered only 10 points. To make matters worse, the 36-year-old signal-caller looked uncomfortable. We must also remember that Cousins is coming off an Achilles tear. By day’s end, he was sacked twice and picked off twice in the loss.
“Captain Kirk” and the Falcons are set for a marquee clash in Week 2. Atlanta will travel north to take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is scheduled for Monday (Sep. 16) at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN. This puts the Michigan State alum in a hostile primetime environment.
Conquering adversity is what gridiron football is all about. Let’s dive into the myriad storylines looming for Cousins on Monday Night Football. For those wondering, DraftKings Sportsbook lists Atlanta as a 5.5-point road underdog in Philly.
Cousins’ Struggles In Primetime
Notably, Cousins has not produced his best on-field results under the bright lights.
He has earned a 13-20 QB record in primetime contests since entering the NFL in 2012. Of course, those team results are not any better in the postseason. Throughout his time previously starting for the Minnesota Vikings and Washington, Cousins sports a 1-4 playoff record.
But on the other hand, Kirk played stellar in his most recent Monday Night Football appearance. In the game prior to suffering his Achilles injury, he carved up the eventual NFC champion San Francisco 49ers in primetime. On that Monday in 2023, Cousins passed for 378 yards and two touchdowns.
However, much has changed for Cousins between then and now.
Is Kirk Fully Healthy?
Working through physical ailments is essentially an unspoken expectation of professional athletes. It should surprise no one that sports are tough on the human body. It’s like NBA Hall-of-Famer Charles Barkley told Playboy back in 1993, “I punish [my opponents]. I drive my knee into their chest. I land on them (…) but when they finally get up, they usually don’t speak well.”
And that’s in a non-contact(ish) sport.
Aside from head injuries (use Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa as example), NFL players will almost always put themselves in harm’s way if it is for the good of the team. That may be exactly what we are seeing right now with Kirk Cousins.
Cousins tore the Achilles tendon on his right leg against the Green Bay Packers just two days before Halloween 2023. He may be four years younger than Aaron Rodgers (who also went out with the same injury last season), but Cousins is working on approximately 50 days less recovery time compared to the New York quarterback. Also, Cousins was unluckier to suffer this specific injury to his plant foot and not his lead foot like Rodgers.
Cousins’ passes have lacked a little zip lately. Will that continue this week?
The Presence Of Michael Penix Jr.
Cousins is cemented in Atlanta with a four-year, $180 million contract, but he expressed confusion when the Falcons used the eighth overall pick at the 2024 NFL draft on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Notably, Penix led all of FBS with 4,903 passing yards last season.
If Cousins struggles this year, the fanbase and coaching staff will begin to have wandering eyes. Given the offensive talent present in Atlanta (RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London and TE Kyle Pitts), results are expected on the gridiron.
Rather than staying in Minnesota, Cousins chose a new opportunity down south (and his wife, Julie, happens to be a Georgia native). Basically, Cousins not only has the weight of a struggling organization on his back, but perhaps the hopes of his in-laws as well.
With Cousins facing Jalen Hurts and a reinvigorated Eagles team on Monday, which step will the wily veteran take? Ultimately, Cousins’ next performance could go a long way into deciding his long-term future.