Insider expands on physical issues plaguing Falcons' Kirk Cousins

Both before and after the Atlanta Falcons benched quarterback Kirk Cousins in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. this week, stories detailed how Cousins had a "dead" arm due to "his inability to use his lower body to muster full power on his throws" coming off the torn Achilles he suffered in October 2023. 

On Thursday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated expanded on such takes and also shared that Cousins encountered some new setbacks beginning with Atlanta's 20-17 loss at the New Orleans Saints in Week 10. 

"At the start of the year, it was pretty clear he wasn’t driving the ball quite the same — it died on him on more difficult throws down the field and to the sideline," Breer said. "Then, in the team’s game in New Orleans a month ago, he nicked his elbow and shoulder, and it got harder for him to put anything on the ball. As you might imagine, his confidence faded from there, contributing to some of the inexplicable decisions of the past few weeks." 

Breer was referencing how Cousins tossed eight interceptions and no touchdown passes over four straight losses before he completed just 11-of-17 attempts for 112 yards with a score and a pick in Atlanta's 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday. Despite the result that improved the Falcons to 7-7 on the season, head coach Raheem Morris confirmed the following evening that he was turning to Penix for Sunday's home game versus the 2-12 New York Giants. 

According to Pro Football Reference, Cousins ranks 22nd in the NFL with a 52.7 adjusted QBR for the season. He is responsible for the league's fourth-highest interception rate (3.5%) and the league's most picks thrown (16) through 15 weeks of action. 

Stories are already linking Cousins with a potential offseason move to a quarterback-needy team such as the Cleveland Browns. While some may believe the 36-year-old is past his prime, Breer's update could show that the veteran simply needs to spend this winter getting healthy in order to eventually relocate his best form with a different club assuming the Falcons part ways with him when the new league year opens in March.