The Atlanta Falcons gave Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed this offseason despite the fact he tore his Achilles in October of last year.
In his debut with the team last week, Cousins looked considerably less than healthy, struggling to move in the pocket, let alone move outside of it.
Cousins threw for only 155 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in an 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Prior to tonight’s Monday Night Football showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles, Cousins made a rather concerning comment to ESPN analyst Troy Aikman.
“I know in talking with Kirk (Cousins), he says that he’s not 100%, but yet he feels that he’s 100% in the pocket,” Aikman said during the pregame show. “It didn’t look that way last week based on what the game plan was.”
Throughout his career, Cousins has been at his best operating the play action and bootleg game. He’s been excellent throwing on the move outside of the pocket.
All of that design was conspicuously absent from Atlanta’s game plan last week. On the first drive tonight in Philly, Cousins hasn’t looked much more mobile, starting just 1-for-3 with a near interception.
At this point, it’s fair to wonder if and when Cousins, 36, will be able to move as much as he needs to in order to be effective. If he can’t do it tonight, it might be a long evening.
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