Kirk Cousins just dropped a bombshell, and Falcons fans aren’t happy. The veteran quarterback recently revealed that a lingering shoulder and elbow injury—not his Achilles—played a major role in his struggles last season. That’s already concerning, but what’s worse? Head coach Raheem Morris previously denied Cousins was benched due to injury. Now, people are questioning whether Atlanta’s coaching staff was fully transparent about their star QB’s health.
Kirk Cousins Opens Up About Injuries—And It Wasn’t the Achilles
Appearing on
Good Morning Football, Cousins was asked about his health and how much last year’s Achilles injury (which he suffered with the Vikings) impacted him. Surprisingly, he said that wasn’t the real issue. Instead, he pointed to a brutal hit during Week 10 against the Saints that left him dealing with pain in his right shoulder and elbow.
“The Achilles itself healed pretty well… and even then, we were 6-3, playing well, doing a lot of good things, even if the right ankle wasn’t perfect. You know, nobody’s perfect in this league. We’re never feeling 100%.”That’s when he dropped the real kicker:
“But then against the Saints, I got hit pretty good in my right shoulder and elbow… I could just never get it to where I wanted it.”Despite this, Cousins kept playing. In the four games after the Saints loss, the Falcons lost three straight, blowing their NFC South lead. Cousins struggled, throwing eight interceptions and just one touchdown before being benched following a lackluster Monday Night Football win over the Raiders.
Raheem Morris Initially Denied Injury as the Reason
This is where things get messy. Back in December, when head coach Raheem Morris was asked if Cousins’ benching was due to an injury, he didn’t hesitate.
“No, it was just a football decision.”That statement now raises some serious red flags. If Cousins was dealing with significant shoulder and elbow pain, why did Morris act like it was just about performance? Was the team hiding the injury to avoid criticism?
Falcons Already Have a History of Injury Report Violations
This smells fishy, because the Falcons have gotten caught doing this before. In 2023, the team was fined $75,000, and former head coach Arthur Smith got his head handed to him when he was dinged $25,000 for messing up the injury report for a game with the Buccaneers. Considering that history, Cousins just adds fuel to the flames of how Atlanta isn't completely transparent over his health.
What’s Next for Cousins and the Falcons?
With NFL free agency kicking off on March 12, Cousins may not even make it to next season in Atlanta. However, his recent quotes will not provide any comfort for Raheem Morris and the front office. Fans have begun criticizing them over this move as well.
So, did the Falcons ignore Cousins' injury just to keep their playoff hopes alive? Or did they downplay the issue to avoid another injury-report controversy? Either way, this is yet another bad look for a franchise that just can't seem to catch a break.
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