Kirk Cousins provides update on Achilles injury recovery
The Atlanta Falcons aren’t practicing their new star quarterback at full throttle as he continues his recovery process from his Achilles tear, but according to Kirk Cousins, that day is not far off. The former Vikings mainstay is working through walk-throughs as he continues his ramp-up to training camp this summer. Cousins provided an update on his health during his press conference on Tuesday.
“It’s coming along really well,” Cousins said. “Today I’ve felt the best I’ve felt. That’s also one day at a time, and the Falcons training staff is doing a great job with me on a daily basis with the rehab.
“I wasn’t sure when I stood here in March, how much I’d be able to do at practice, but today I felt like I was able to do everything I would have normally done.”
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris also shared confidence in getting Cousins back to 100% this summer.
“Kirk is every day improving. We are kind of right at the point where he’s doing everything we can do at this point at Phase 2,” Morris said, “which is nobody around him, there’s no contact, he’s all good with all those type of things.
“He’s been doing all those things, he’s been throwing, he’s been out there pretty much full go. We got him in a limited basis because he’s still in his rehab in his treatment and all those type of things. He’ll be doing a lot of the things when we get back because we still won’t have a lot of people in the pocket. Most of the stuff is jog-through as you guys know in the offseason programs now.”
Cousins battling physical, mental hurdles
Just as hindering as the physical limitations, Cousins is also working through the mental hurdles that pop up after a season-ending injury.
“We’re doing great; we’re progressing well. Today was a step better than yesterday was physically. So that was encouraging,” Cousins said. “But, I’m watching the tape saying ‘all right, how much am I using my lower half? How much am I using my back leg to really drive the football?’ There’s still more to go get, but I also feel I can play pretty well today. As a competitor, there’s more to go get.”
For the Vikings last season, Cousins played in eight games before tearing his Achilles and going on IR. Still considered one of the best veteran quarterbacks in the league, even coming off of injury, he was able to sign a four-year, $180 million contract.