FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Kirk Cousins is in attendance at the Atlanta Falcons' mandatory minicamp, head coach Raheem Morris confirmed Tuesday before the Falcons first open practice. It was reported Monday that this would be the case, with The Athletic's Dianna Russini stating Cousins would be fined for every day of minicamp he missed.
"I got a chance to speak with everybody because I had my team meeting," Morris said when asked if he has communicated with Cousins this week. "I actually got a chance to speak with Kirk Cousins because he sits right in the front row so I saw him when he came in. Obviously, he's not somebody I have seen every day (this spring) so I got a chance to say, 'What's up,' to him, yes."
This is just another chapter in the Cousins' saga this offseason after the Falcons moved forward with Michael Penix Jr. as the starter with three games left in the 2024 season. Since January, Falcons leadership has stood firm in their stance of Cousins remaining on the roster as Penix's backup.
At the Annual League Meetings this spring, Morris and owner Arthur Blank detailed their individual conversations with Cousins, stating he has made it clear to them both he would like the opportunity (i.e. a trade) to be a starter in the league again. Morris said the Falcons wouldn't stand in the way of Cousins' wishes, if there was a deal that could be struck that benefitted both parties involved.
"If we get a call, we'll discuss it. If it makes sense and it's going to help this team, we'll do it," general manager Terry Fontenot said prior to the 2025 NFL Draft. "If not, we won't."
When the Falcons began voluntary offseason training programs in April, Cousins did report to the facility, though he was not present during the days of open practice in the weeks that followed. Mandatory minicamp is the first time Cousins has been on a Falcons field publicly since the 2024 season ended.
A major question about the level of involvement of Cousins on this roster has been the potential impact this could have on Penix. Morris seems to think its not that deep.
"I'm really comfortable with Kirk because of who he is," Morris said. "... He's going to go out and do whatever it takes for us to help this football team as long as he's with us, and he's with us. It's been a less dramatic situation than it has been from an outside-of-the-building standpoint."
Morris went on to say that he's not worried about Penix in this situation, either — partially because of Penix's even-keeled nature coupled with Cousins professionalism.
"Kirk is not in the business of disrupting Michael Penix," Morris said. "Kirk has a great appreciation for the player Michael is. He has a great appreciation for the person that he is. I don't have worries about those things. That only happens when you have a lack of communication, when there's a void in the communication, and we just don't have those things."
