Falcons QB Kirk Cousins medically cleared from torn Achilles
Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Kirk Cousins, the team’s new quarterback, has been medically cleared to start training camp.
Cousins ruptured his Achilles last October when.he was with the Vikings. He had been able to do some drills once he signed with Atlanta during OTAs and minicamp. But there was no tackling allowed in any of those drills and players weren’t allowed anywhere near Cousins or the other quarterbacks.
Morris said the Falcons will be diligent with Cousins. There’s no need to push the quarterback, who will be 36 next month, through the heat of training camp.
Morris told reporters that “the limitations for [Cousins], you won’t notice.”
The Falcons made huge investments with quarterbacks this off-season. They first signed Cousins, one of the biggest names in the free agent market. Atlanta gave him a four-year, $180 million contract. Of that money, $100 million is guaranteed. Remember, this contract came after Cousins’ Achilles surgery. Before the injury in week eight of last season, Cousins’ 18 touchdown passes were the most in the NFL.
Falcons QB backups Heinicke, Penix will share second-team reps
There are some limitations that will be noticed. Cousins said after practice on Thursday that he asked Morris if he could play in the three Falcons’ preseason games. But the coach told him “’not gonna happen.’ Cousins added “I don’t know if I’m letting the cat out of the bag there.”
The Falcons open the preseason on Aug. 9 with a game against the Dolphins. They’ll also play the Ravens and Jaguars before closing camp.
The Falcons also used their first-round pick to draft former Washington star Michael Penix Jr. Given that Atlanta already had Cousins on the roster when the team selected Penix at No. 8, the pick shocked many draft observers. In all, six quarterbacks were selected in the top 12 picks.
Meanwhile, the Falcons traded Desmond Ridder, last year’s starter, to the Cardinals. Atlanta still has Taylor Heinicke on the roster. Morris said that both Penix and Heinicke will share second-team reps during training camp.
Cousins told reporters that his Achilles is feeling good.
“I feel ready to go and that’s exciting because it’s been a long journey,” the Falcons quarterback said. “We will pick up the tempo tomorrow.”