NFL fans question if Kirk Cousins is injured as QB’s practice footage goes viral: "Falcons lit $180M on fire”

NFL fans are doubting whether Kirk Cousins is fit enough to be the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. The quarterback had some sensational production over the last couple of years with the Minnesota Vikings and the Falcons thought they had their franchise star for the next few years after picking him up in free agency. He was given a four-year contract worth $180 million.

But he is already under pressure after a disappointing performance in Atlanta's opening game of the 2024 season. He threw for just 155 yards and had two interceptions while throwing just a single touchdown. It was a poor performance and many people began wondering what might be the reason behind that.

Many speculated that the right Achilles injury that he suffered last season, which ended his year prematurely, had not fully healed, as it looked like he was struggling to put his full weight on that leg. And a recent video of him practicing after that game has only made the speculation louder.

He lined up under center and then dropped back to throw a pass but was seen not fully planting his right foot on the turf. That led to fans taking to X/Twitter, to declare that they believed they did not have a fit enough quarterback to lead the Falcons.

Here are some of the reactions from fans:

Such reactions were commonplace and many Atlanta fans lamented the state of their team with Kirk Cousins not looking fully healthy:

"Still not planting his leg, we are cooked," one fan said.

"Y’all don’t see him stomping that right heel? Ain’t no power in those toes," another fan said.

"I wanna have so much faith but it’s still looking like he ain’t 100%," one fan added.

Michael Penix Jr. pick looks more justified as Kirk Cousins struggles

The positive news for Falcons fans is that even if Kirk Cousins is not 100%, he is likely only going to get better. And as he gets healthier, assuming he is not fully so right now as fans are saying, the play should improve. But recovering from an Achilles injury is no joke and the Falcons probably understood that better than anyone else.

That is why they went and got Michael Penix Jr. in this year's draft even though they had Cousins. They justified it by saying that it was part of the succession plan but going so high probably also showed that they might have some doubts about whether their veteran quarterback can come back strong from the injury that curtailed his 2023 season.