For Falcons QB Kirk Cousins, the key to a crucial comeback might be confidence

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Kirk Cousins sounded like a man taking nothing for granted as he navigates the path to what he believes will be a successful comeback from a torn Achilles tendon. This doesn’t mean merely passing the physical markers during his rehab – the new Atlanta Falcons quarterback achieved another milestone this week as he was medically cleared to fully participate in training camp drills – but also the mental hurdles.

Cousins, 35, knows that regaining confidence in his right foot is a huge part of this process.

“I actually did a top 10 power ranking of people who have torn their Achilles,” Cousins shared after the first camp practice on Thursday.

It’s an impressive list that includes notable athletes such as the late Kobe Bryant, Splash Brother Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Tiger Woods. Yet Cousins went deeper and discovered that former Vice President Al Gore had a similar setback. Then there was Judi Dench, who had to withdraw from the original Broadway production of "Cats" because of a torn Achilles.

Yes, Cousins, 35, has done some homework on this. With much purpose.

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“I took a lot of hope,” Cousins said of his research. “A lot of people came back and led really successful lives off torn Achilles (injuries). Al Gore became vice president. So…there’s hope for me.”

And maybe some relief for the Falcons, who made a massive investment in a 13-year veteran coming off the major injury suffered in October that abruptly ended his final season with the Minnesota Vikings. Despite the fact that Cousins was coming off the first surgery of his career, the Falcons were convinced enough that he will rebound that they signed him to the NFL’s biggest free agent deal in March – a four-year, $180 million contract that guarantees $100 million.

Here’s to modern medicine – and the desperation of a franchise, backed by team owner Arthur Blank’s deep pockets, that has never won a Super Bowl and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2017.

Typically, Cousins was upbeat and energetic as he provided a status update. He was quick to reiterate that he has been careful not to rush the rehab progress, yet seemingly emboldened by the significance of getting fully cleared a few days before his Aug. 1 target date.

For all that he’s achieved in his career, Cousins is looking for another layer of confidence to fuel his rebound.

“Really, the last part of rehab is just playing football,” Cousins said.

It’s been a steady progression. After Cousins was limited during the offseason minicamp and OTA practices, he’s at the point now where the primary limitations will come from the load management prescribed by the Falcons.

Of course, Cousins still won’t be subjected to contact during practices, which is pretty standard for all quarterbacks during training camp. Yet he can run, roll out, pivot and plant on the foot that is getting stronger. Falcons coach Raheem Morris termed the limitations at this point as “modifications” to the workload.

One of the keys during the offseason sessions, Morris explained, was to keep Cousins clear from traffic that might have resulted in incidental contact – and risk.

“Now there will be people around him and you feel comfortable with that, moving forward,” Morris said. “Obviously, some of his limitations will come in our individual drills, some of our movement, making sure that we don’t wear him out. We want to get all of the team reps with him. He’s fired up. The team’s fired up. The limitations for him, he won’t notice, either. That will just be our own modifications, being smart.”

It is also apparent that Morris, who succeeds Arthur Smith, will be steadfast in sticking to the real timeline they are working with for Cousins.

Although Cousins maintains that he wants to see action during the preseason, Morris has apparently squashed that idea. Atlanta opens its preseason slate at the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 9, followed by exhibitions at the Baltimore Ravens and at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“I want to play,” Cousins said of the prospect of getting at least a few snaps of live action during the preseason. “But I think that ask fell on deaf ears. Raheem’s motto is, ‘You’re not playing.’ Coach is like, ‘That’s just not how we want to do things.’ “

In other words, the target date for Cousins’ return to game action is Sept. 8, when the Falcons open the regular season at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The closest thing to simulated game action before that could be the two days of joint practices the Falcons will engage in with the Dolphins before the teams meet in their preseason openers.

“Maybe I can persuade him,” Cousins added of the slim-to-none possibilities of playing at some point in the preseason. “Maybe there’s a conversation. Who knows? There’s so much that can change. I think seeing live balls and playing is helpful, but I can understand the logic behind not doing it. Everything we do is calculated and that will be as well.”

No, there’s no reason to rush it. Yet there are plenty of reasons to anticipate what might be. New coordinator Zac Robinson, a Sean McVay protégé who followed Morris from the Los Angeles Rams, brings the expectation of creativity and balance. And there’s a bevy of playmakers, including running back Bijan Robinson, tight end Kyle Pitts and receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney, promising a wide variety of options.

Cousins says getting to this point in his comeback represents “a cautious relief.”

But he can’t wait for what could come next.