Quarterback Kirk Cousins’ debut for the Atlanta Falcons didn’t go as deliberate, however it wasn’t as a result of harm, in response to coach Raheem Morris.
Cousins struggled in an 18-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in Atlanta. He had simply 19 passing yards within the second half, the bottom complete of his 13-year profession. Cousins was 16-of-26 for 155 yards with one landing and two interceptions total.
It was Cousins’ first recreation since struggling a torn Achilles in Week 8 final season. Cousins didn’t play in any respect within the preseason however was not likely restricted in coaching camp.
“I really feel like Kirk is wholesome,” Morris mentioned Monday. “He is been wholesome since he is been right here.”
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The Falcons’ playcalling, underneath new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, fueled hypothesis that the group was attempting to guard Cousins. Atlanta ran just one offensive play with Cousins underneath middle, per Subsequent Gen Stats. They ran 26 performs out of the pistol set and 22 out of shotgun. Cousins had by no means taken greater than 10 snaps out of the pistol in a recreation earlier than Sunday. In these pistol units, the Falcons gained a complete of solely 6 yards.
Morris, although, mentioned the offensive system had nothing to do with Cousins’ well being. He mentioned Cousins’ points had been possible as a result of “some rust from not enjoying for therefore lengthy.”
“With Kirk being right here, we have been doing the identical factor since he is been right here, and that is how we have deliberate on enjoying and we have performed that method all through,” Morris mentioned Monday. “We have performed that method for a minute, and we have executed a bunch of various issues in our case and every little thing we’ll do is determining find out how to win this soccer recreation. And that was the plan to go on the market and win the soccer recreation.”
The Falcons signed 36-year-old Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract within the offseason. He was main the league in landing passes (18) earlier than taking place with the harm final yr.
The Steelers’ protection was dominant at occasions Sunday, with edge rusher T.J. Watt creating havoc within the type of 3 quarterback hits, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 fumble restoration.
“We performed, I assumed, profitable soccer in two phases of the sport, and we did not play profitable soccer in our offensive section of the sport,” Morris mentioned.
