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Kirk Cousins wants to be a starting quarterback, which he made clear in one-on-one meetings with Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot, owner Arthur Blank and his head coach.

Raheem Morris said Tuesday the Falcons are still comfortable keeping Cousins as the backup to Michael Penix Jr., but after those meetings the likelihood of Cousins playing in Atlanta remains unlikely at best. There’s even less of a chance Cousins will attend offseason voluntary workouts, Morris said.

“I’m not going to be foolish to think that he’s going to show up for voluntary work,” the coach said Tuesday at the NFL’s annual league meeting. “Right now, we’re dealing with a businesslike mode. … We’re dealing with that type of feel. I don’t think he’ll be there. If he is, we’ll welcome him with open arms. But I’m not going to be foolish enough to make myself get worked up and angry about Kirk Cousins missing voluntary workouts.”

Cousins is not expected to waive his no-trade clause until after the 2025 NFL Draft later this month to avoid finding himself back in the same position he encountered in Atlanta. After signing a four-year, $180 million contract in March 2024, the Falcons surprised the former Washington and Minnesota Vikings starter by drafting Penix with the No. 8 overall pick.

The Falcons started the season 6-3, but a nosedive Cousins told NFL Network coincided with a shoulder injury prompted Morris to turn the offense over to Penix with three games left in the regular season. Penix went 1-2.

That’s the thrust of the conundrum for Cousins — and the Falcons, who are on the hook for $27.5 million guaranteed in 2025 with $10 million more due as a roster bonus in 2026. He turns 37 in mid-August and a team with an opening at the position would need to rewind his 2024 game film to before a dismal five-game stretch in November and December where Cousins had a record of 1-4, was sacked 11 times and threw nine interceptions and one touchdown pass.

Even the most QB-needy teams are not expected to knock on Fontenot’s door and take on Cousins’ deal as comprised. That’s why the GM and Morris have taken a position that they’ll go into the season with Cousins as a backup.

“I do know he would like to try to be a starter at some point,” Morris said. “That’s definitely been clearly communicated with me and whoever else he had an opportunity to talk to. I do know that. The way about that, I’m not sure. But we have to figure those things out. We have to get to that process.”

–Field Level Media