The Atlanta Falcons got off to an impressive 6-3 start in 2024 before a midseason slump cost them a chance at the playoffs. Starting in Week 10, the team lost four straight games and Kirk Cousins‘ poor play was the biggest reason for the streak.
So what exactly happened to the veteran quarterback that caused his midseason dropoff? Cousins’ arm strength seemed to vanish out of thin air and he began throwing more interceptions than touchdowns.
This eventually led the Falcons to bench Cousins for rookie Michael Penix Jr. in Week 16. While Cousins claimed there was nothing physically wrong with him at the time, it sounds like he was playing hurt after all.
During an appearance on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” program, Cousins admitted to hurting his arm and elbow in the team’s Week 10 loss to the Saints.
“But then against the Saints, I got hit pretty good in my right shoulder and elbow, and from there, kind of dealing with that,” said Cousins. “It was something that I was working through and just never really could get it to where I wanted it.”
Prior to the alleged injury, Cousins had passed for 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. From Weeks 10-15, he passed for one touchdown and eight interceptions. Clearly, he was not the same player after that Saints game.
Cousins finished the season with 18 touchdowns and a career-high 16 interceptions. Many rightfully criticized his decision-making down the stretch, but perhaps those bad decisions were due to a lack of confidence in his arm strength.
However, while Cousins’ injury potentially explains his dropoff, it also begs the question of why he denied being hurt. The Falcons were in control of the NFC South in Week 10. Had Cousins sat out a few games to get healthy, the team likely would’ve made the playoffs.
It’s possible that Cousins could have been worried he wouldn’t get his job back if the team went to Penix. That’s a valid concern, but not when it comes at the expense of the rest of the team.
The Falcons deserve some criticism for not benching Cousins sooner, but head coach Raheem Morris clearly believed the veteran QB would bounce back.
On the bright side, this injury news could help increase Cousins’ trade value, assuming the team moves him in the offseason as expected.
