Kirk Cousins Opens Up About Injury That Led to His Benching

Playing Through Pain

For the first time, former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has revealed that he was dealing with an injury during the Atlanta Falcons’ four-game losing streak that ultimately led to his benching in December. Speaking on Good Morning Football, Cousins shared that a brutal hit to his right shoulder and elbow in a Week 10 matchup against the New Orleans Saints significantly impacted his performance.

Prior to that game, the Falcons were flying high with a 6-3 record, and Cousins had thrown 17 touchdown passes with just seven interceptions. However, after the injury, his play took a sharp downturn—he failed to throw a single touchdown pass during the four-game skid and was picked off eight times.

A Rocky Start in Atlanta

After recovering from a torn Achilles that ended his tenure with the Vikings, Cousins signed a massive four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons. His transition wasn’t seamless, but he found his rhythm in October and early November. Unfortunately, just as things were clicking, the injury setback derailed his season.

“The Achilles healed well,” Cousins said. “There was a little bit of trying to get my right ankle back around the Achilles. … Against the Saints, got hit pretty good in my right shoulder and elbow and from there, kinda dealing with that was something I was working through. Just never could really get it to where I wanted it.”

Now, with the offseason underway, Cousins is focused on fully recovering. “You’ve got the time and the energy to say, ‘OK, let’s get the right ankle back, let’s get the shoulder back, let’s get the elbow back.’ And if we can do that, I feel like I’ve got a new life ahead of me here in pro football.”

The Bench and the Rise of Michael Penix Jr.

Cousins’ struggles culminated in a rough two-interception game during a 42-21 loss to the Vikings—his highly anticipated return to U.S. Bank Stadium. The following week, he failed to find his footing in a low-scoring win over the Raiders. By Week 16, the Falcons decided to make a change, benching Cousins in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr.

Penix showed promise in the final three games of the season, emerging as the likely starter for Atlanta in 2025. This development leaves Cousins in a difficult position.

What’s Next for Cousins?

With three years remaining on his contract and a no-trade clause, Cousins faces an uncertain future. However, it seems unlikely that he would want to remain in Atlanta as the most expensive backup quarterback in NFL history. A fresh start elsewhere could be the best move for the veteran signal-caller, who still believes he has plenty left in the tank.

“I definitely still feel like I have a lot of good football left in me,” Cousins said. “Time will tell what happens, it’s still kind of uncertain. We’ll get to March and know a lot more. But I think the focus for me, really, is getting healthy. I’m no good to the Falcons, I’m no good to a team if I’m not feeling really good.”

As free agency approaches, all eyes will be on Cousins. Will he find a new home, or will he remain in Atlanta and fight for his job? The next few months will be crucial in determining the next chapter of his career.