Caleb Harris
Quarterback Kirk Cousins is adapting to a new team as he recovers from an Achilles injury that sidelined him at the end of the 2023 season. The Atlanta Falcons’ approach to his injury is different than it would have was the Minnesota Vikings’ plan if he had stayed with his old team.
Cousins has been taking reps during OTAs and is enjoying returning to football activities. During his press conference, he explained that the Vikings didn’t plan on having him practice until much later in the offseason.
“When I first [suffered the injury], and I was in Minnesota the second half of last season, the conversation was, ‘What are the OTAs going to be like?’ And the response I got was, ‘We’re not going to put you through practice reps, it’s just not worth it,'” Cousins said (via NBC Sports). “If it’s step-by-step, maybe, but the training reps, you don’t need to be there. I was basically planning on doing my first workout rep at the end of July.”
Cousins seems to enjoy getting those snaps this offseason and feels like he took advantage of every opportunity possible.
“I feel like I got every rep that I had at these OTAs and I think that was a big win for… building the continuity that we talked about.
While progress appears to be heading in the right direction, there is still a way to go for the veteran.
“I mean, I want it to be today,” Cousins said of being 100%. “But you just have to let your body tell you when. Will I be able to feel that, okay, is the strength fully there or am I not feeling anything in my ankle or my Achilles tendon. You kind of let your body tell you.”
Right now, Cousins is finding the balance between pushing himself but not going overboard.
“What I’ve learned is what you can’t do is ignore what your body is telling you,” the four-time Pro Bowler said. “I’m going to take it. I’m going to grind it out. And that’s the safest way to make sure it doesn’t scar as quickly as possible. You just try to listen to your body.”
He admitted that this offseason there have already been times when his body told him to stop. Falcons staff checked on him at that time.
“I think there were moments like that in practice, when your adrenaline kicks in and you maybe go for a run. And they say, ‘You don’t need to do that right now. These are OTAs,'” Cousins said. . “So that happens from time to time. But it’s a good problem if it happens.”
Whether Cousins will be ready for training camp and the preseason remains something only time can tell, but he hopes to get that time with his offense before the start of the regular season.
“It feels like a long way away,” Cousins said. “But I think it’s always a big test to evaluate where we are as an offense, as a system. I’d love to come in and play if we can. You know, it would be great to go there and do that dress rehearsal.”
The Falcons’ season opener will be in front of their fans, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, on September 8th.
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