Falcons' Cousins played through shoulder, elbow injuries before benching

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins revealed Tuesday that he hurt his shoulder and elbow in a loss to the New Orleans Saints and that the injuries contributed to his benching.

"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 on "Good Morning Football," according to ESPN's Marc Raimondi.

The Falcons had previously said the quarterback wasn't playing through injury.

Cousins added that his right ankle wasn't perfect this season after tearing his Achilles the season prior.

The passer was averaging 258.6 yards per game before the Week 10 match and threw 17 touchdowns and seven picks over that span. After suffering the injury, he averaged 218.5 yards and threw one touchdown and nine picks. The Falcons were 6-3 heading into the Saints game and subsequently dropped four straight.

Cousins was benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. after the Falcons narrowly beat the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 16. The 36-year-old finished 7-7 as Atlanta's starter.

"Now that the season is over, kind of have the time and energy to say, 'OK, let's get the shoulder back, let’s get the elbow back,' Cousins added, per The Athletic's Josh Kendall. "If we can do that, feel like I've got a new life ahead of me in pro football."

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot told reporters Jan. 9 that the team was open to trading Cousins if the passer's camp was open to the option. Fontenot added that Atlanta would also be "very comfortable" with Cousins backing up Penix.

Cousins signed a four-year, $180-million deal in March 2024 after six seasons as the Minnesota Vikings' starter. If the Falcons cut Cousins before June 1, they will have $65-million in dead money for 2025, per Over the Cap. Conversely, a post-June 1 release would result in $40 million in dead money.