Raheem Morris: Falcons are 'really excited' about where Kirk Cousins stands in recovery

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is happy with the progress Kirk Cousins has made when it comes to his health. While speaking to reporters last month, Morris was asked about Cousins’ status after suffering an Achilles injury with the Minnesota Vikings last year.

“He’s doing everything that we’re asking him to do right now,” Morris said. “We’re limiting him with some of the staff that we call with the movement and things of that nature. All the dropback stuff, he’s in the pocket, he’s able to handle the handoffs.

“You’ve seen him pretty much execute everything you would execute and we’re treating him that way. The tempo up front is a little different in the offseason and who people that affect the quarterback and how they get around the quarterback, we know it’s not the same as it would be in a game. But we’re really excited on where he’s at in his progress. We’re really excited where he’s at in his mental capacity to hold the offense and what he’s able to do and bringing it all out for our guys.”

The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal in March and will be the team’s franchise QB. However, Atlanta drafted Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall in April, meaning that Cousins likely won’t be with the team for his entire contract.

How long will Kirk Cousins play in the NFL?

While appearing on Bussin with The Boys, Cousins revealed how long he wants to play in the NFL. “I’d like to play out this contract and maybe do one more,” Cousins revealed. “…The boys will have a big play in it because if they’re saying, ‘Hey dad, we’d really like to have you stop,’ I’m done. But if they’re like ‘Dad, you can’t quit. You got to go. We’re enjoying this. This is fun,’ I would go. …They love it right now.”

After signing with the Falcons, Cousins talked about being 100 percent when the Falcons started training camp in July. “I’m optimistic that I can be full speed at practice before we break for the summer – and that’s kind of the goal I’ve set for myself – but we do have a long runway,” he said, per the Falcons’ official website. What I’ve been told, going back to when I first injured it, was that you don’t rush it, you let time do its thing, and it’s going to take time to fully heal that tissue. But as a competitor, you want to get back as fast as you can. Certainly, I’m trying to do that.”