The Atlanta Falcons' biggest problem this offseason is figuring out how to put the disastrous Kirk Cousins contract behind them. While it seemed wise to acquire the veteran at the time, it quickly became obvious that Cousins' best days are behind him.
It seems almost certain that Cousins will be on a different team in 2025, starting just 14 games for $100 million guaranteed. He blamed his sharp decline in production on an injury he suffered against the New Orleans Saints, though there have been questions about whether or not Cousins was actually hurt.
In new comments by general manager Terry Fontenot, it sounds like the team doesn't agree with Cousins' assessment about a potential injury.
Falcons GM Terry Fontenot on Kirk Cousins’ injury status: “He was on the injury report the week heading into the Denver game. He wasn’t on the injury report any other point of the season outside of that so we weren’t aware of any injuries outside of that.” Via @929MorningShift
— Chris Thomas - Turtle (@CThomasRadio) February 25, 2025
Falcons GM Dismisses Kirk Cousins Injury Speculation
In an appearance on 92.9 The Game in Atlanta, Fontenot dismissed the idea that Cousins was dealing with an injury. The pointed nature of the comments seemingly points to a dysfunctional relationship.
"He was on the injury report the week heading into the Denver game," Fontenot said. "He wasn’t on the injury report any other point of the season outside of that so we weren’t aware of any injuries outside of that."
Either Cousins failed to tell the medical staff that he was actually hurt, which could make sense considering he wanted to remain the starter ahead of rookie Michael Penix, or the coaches were ignorant about what he was dealing with. Both outcomes are a problem and it's hard to feel confident moving forward, particularly given how poorly Cousins played.
In a disastrous four-game losing streak, Cousins didn't throw a single TD pass while tossing eight interceptions. The first matchup in that stretch was the aforementioned Saints game, which would at least help explain the meltdown.
As for Cousins, he's likely trying to do damage control knowing Atlanta has already moved on. That said, his lack of mobility and injury history don't exactly make him an attractive target.
The Falcons would obviously prefer to trade him and recoup some kind of value. This free agent quarterback class is uninspiring, giving Atlanta the chance to take advantage of a desperate team. For their sake, here's hoping they can find a suitor.