Kirk Cousins ​​is pretty much all in on the Falcons’ offseason program

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​​​is “pretty much complete” in terms of physical capabilities for this part of the Atlanta Falcons’ offseason program, coach Raheem Morris said Friday.

The Falcons are in phase two of their program, which means no contact and practicing at less than full speed. In that regard, Morris said, Cousins ​​doesn’t have many limitations. Cousins’ 2023 season, which ended up being his last with the Minnesota Vikings, ended due to a torn right Achilles tendon in Week 8. Atlanta signed him as a free agent in March.

“Kirk is getting better every day,” Morris said during the Falcons’ rookie minicamp. “So we’re kind of at the point where he’s doing everything we can do at this point in phase two, right? There’s no one around him. There’s no contact. He’s quite good with all that stuff. So he did all those things.

Morris said the only thing that’s reduced is the volume of snaps Cousins, 35, takes because the quarterback is still rehabbing his injury.

“We will limit what he does as far as the amount, not necessarily what he does as far as where we are and what we’re capable of doing right now,” Morris said. “It’s not like training camp where I’m worried about the people at his feet, because the pace is so slow and… we feel really good about where he’s at right now .”

Atlanta is in the third phase of its offseason program with OTAs on Tuesday. Cousins ​​led the league in touchdown passes (18) when he was injured, and only two quarterbacks since the start of the 2020 season have thrown more touchdown passes than Cousins: Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.

The Falcons drafted Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in last month’s NFL draft, but Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot have repeatedly said that had nothing to do with it. to do with the health of Cousins. The plan is for Cousins ​​to be the team’s current quarterback and Penix to be his successor, team executives said.

Penix said Friday that he saw Cousins ​​the morning before rookie minicamp started and the two exchanged pleasantries.

“He said he was happy to see me and have me here, and I just told him I looked forward to working with him,” Penix said.