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Yankees Facing Concerning News on Brother of $180 Million Star

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zach Kaplan | Last updated Jun 12, 2025 5:46 PM ET

The connection between Yankees reliever Jake Cousins and star NFL quarterback Kirk Cousins has been well documented, with Cousins' resurgence with the Yankees in 2024 being closely watched with Kirk's work on the gridiron.

Cousins pitched in a career-high 37 games with the Yankees in 2024 after being traded from the White Sox for cash considerations on March 31. Cousins saw some notable success, including his first career save, and a 1.05 WHIP along with a 2.37 ERA.

Cousins has been out since Spring Training with a forearm strain, but the Yankees made a concerning announcement about Cousins' injury.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters that Cousins appears to be dealing with a UCL injury, but the team will receive further medical opinions before a diagnosis is made.

Cousins' return to the mound was delayed in May due to a pectoral injury, and he made progress on his recovery to be able to go on a rehab assignment earlier this month, but experienced the setback after just two appearances.

Alarm bells should be flaring here, as the best case scenario appears to be a return after the All-Star Break if Tommy John surgery isn't needed, but the worst case scenario is Cousins misses the rest of the season and likely a good chunk of next season.

Cousins was one of the many feel-good stories on that 2024 Yankees roster, and his sharp command on his slider and deceptive arm slot fooled hitters all throughout last year. One can only hope for the best as the team awaits his diagnosis.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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