FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – There have been a couple of moments so far during training camp that have caused me to – ever so briefly – hold my breath. Nearly all of them have involved Kirk Cousins.
Not because he's done anything overly risky or even looked uncomfortable out there on the field. Simply because I'm a worrywart. But Wednesday featured a moment that has me ready to breathe easy and trust that Cousins, who tore his Achilles tendon in Week 8 of the 2023 season, is physically prepared for the season ahead.
About midway through the team's 11-on-11 period during the second half of Wednesday's practice, Cousins took off to his right. It had been a very strong practice for Atlanta's defense, and the front seven once again pushed the pocket into the quarterback. In that moment, what Cousins did looked purely instinctual – a veteran passer navigating the pass rush and taking off to pick up needed yardage.
What was notable about Cousins' scramble is that he looked really fluid doing it. Nobody would ever confuse the 35-year-old quarterback who is entering his 13th NFL season with a true dual-threat player, but he looked unburdened by any fear that his body wouldn't hold up on the play, and that's all that matters.
"I have a lot more to go but I am moving well," Cousins said. "I am able to play the position. I took off today in a two-minute period and I was able to run. I felt no worse for the wear. I felt like I was still moving well. I think I might have given Coach Rah a bit of a heart attack, but I felt good. So, you can rest assured on that."
In nearly every other respect this camp, Cousins has been superlative. He's been a galvanizing force for the offense, commanding the huddle and executing plays at a high level. At this point in camp, the offense feels ahead of the curve and that has as much to do with Cousins as anyone.
There's no reason to believe Cousins won't hold up physically this season. He's passed every physical checkpoint so far and seems to be in a good place mentally. Still, it takes moments like the scrimmage scramble on Wednesday to reinforce what we can logically conclude.
And yet, a final hurdle still remains.
"It's different getting hit, you know," Cousins said. "I have a red jersey on right now. So, when you get hit you have to be strong enough to really be able to stand underneath the weight of not just you but of a D-lineman, so that's kind of where I'm trying to get."
At this point it seems unlikely Cousins will play in the preseason, much to the quarterback's chagrin. After missing half of last season – a year in which he played some of the best football of his career – it's clear Cousins is itching to get back.
In that sense, Wednesday's practice wasn't just a step in the right direction, it was a sprint.
