This explains so much.
[Chorus]
Hold me now
I’m six feet from the edge, and I’m thinking
“Maybe six feet ain’t so far down”
What started as a fun Good Morning Football interview showcasing cross-stitching skills that emulated Creed lyrics turned into another installation in the wacky tale of the Atlanta Falcons. Kirk Cousins took a hit in Week 10, and his shoulder felt out of sorts for the rest of the year.
“I, against the Saints, got hit pretty good in my right shoulder and elbow, and from there, kind of dealing with that was something I was working through and just never really could get it to where I wanted it,” Cousins said.
Not ideal.
The timing of this injury lines up with the timeline now known as Kirkplosion–the one touchdown, nine interception stretch that ultimately led to the beginning of the Michael Penix era. Frustration is easy to pull from in times like this; how could the team even get away with hiding something like this? They technically didn’t. Cousins was listed as limited on the injury report for one day during Week 11 due to a right shoulder and elbow injury. Where things get tricky are developments that took place after this designation. Cousins had said post-game against the Broncos that the injury designation was a “clerical error,” and he was completely healthy.
With this new story rising to the surface, it is unclear how the league will look at the situation. Players deal with nagging injuries all the time, and many of them aren’t listed on the injury report for lagging bumps and bruises. That could unveil a larger issue about how player health is managed across the league.
I was critical of the Atlanta Falcons’ handling of injured players this year. Nate Landman and Troy Andersen never appeared to recover enough to reclaim their roles. Lorenzo Carter and his mysterious IR designation never produced much explanation, and, of course, Younghoe Koo. Regardless of what happened in 2024, fundamental protocol changes need to be made in 2025.
It will be hard to trust Cousins’s health status at this stage. The quarterback (and team) were adamant that nothing was wrong with his health, only to reveal on national television that something was awry the entire time. This is a critical juncture for the player and team, as they will likely be working to move the quarterback, but this throttles what little leverage exists.
All of Flowery Branch holds its breath as they hope to avoid any more penalties that could affect the team’s already limited assets.