Cousins cleared to practice after torn Achilles

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has been medically cleared to practice in training camp, coach Raheem Morris said Thursday.

Cousins’ 2023 season ended when he tore his right Achilles in Week 8. He was able to practice with few limitations during spring OTAs and minicamp. There was a question of whether Cousins would be able to practice in training camp, with the potential of players being near him and around his legs.

But Morris said the Falcons would be “comfortable” with that at this stage. Cousins will take the vast majority of the first-team snaps in camp, though there will still be minor restrictions for him. The team’s first practice is scheduled for Thursday morning.

“The limitations for [Cousins], you won’t notice,” Morris said.

Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed. He filled the team’s biggest need: quarterback. The Falcons struggled at the position last season with Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, leading to team owner Arthur Blank dubbing Atlanta’s QB performance as “deficient.”

Cousins, 35, threw for more than 4,000 yards and for 29 or more touchdowns in the three seasons before the injury. He was leading the NFL in touchdown passes (18) when he went down in October.

The Falcons also drafted a quarterback with the No. 8 pick in the April draft: Michael Penix Jr. out of the University of Washington. That was a major first-round surprise considering the signing of Cousins.

Morris said Thursday that Penix will split second-team reps with Heinicke during training camp, like he did in OTAs and minicamp.

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