Cousins missed half of the 2023 campaign after suffering a torn right Achilles. After six seasons in Minnesota, Cousins left the Vikings for Atlanta in the offseason, signing a four-year, $180 million contract to be the club’s new starting quarterback. But the vet’s long-term future with the Falcons was thrown for a loop one month later when general manager Terry Fontenot picked Penix in the top 10 of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Despite Penix’s presence, Cousins remained the starter for the bulk for the ’24 campaign, flashing at times but also struggling with mobility and accuracy down the stretch. After throwing just one touchdown to nine interceptions in a five-game span late in the season, Cousins was finally replaced by Penix, likely for good.

Cousins said Tuesday that the lingering effects from the 2023 injury — and additional knocks in ’24 — may have contributed to his subpar performance.

“I think the Achilles healed well. I think there was a little bit of just trying to get my right ankle back around the Achilles, but the Achilles itself healed really well,” Cousins told GMFB: OT. “Even then, we were 6-3, was playing well, doing a lot of good things, even if the right ankle wasn’t perfect. Nobody’s perfect in this league. We’re never feeling 100 percent. So it didn’t really affect me too much, but then against the Saints [in Week 10], I got hit pretty good in my right shoulder and elbow. From there, kinda dealing with that, it was something I was working through. Just never could get it really to where I wanted it.

“Now that the season’s over, you have the time and the energy to say, OK, let’s get the right ankle back, let’s get the shoulder back, let’s get the elbow back, and if we can do that, [I] feel like I got a new life ahead of me in pro football.”

Does that new life include serving as Penix’s backup? Or can Cousins find a starting gig elsewhere in the coming weeks?

The Falcons QB still has three years remaining on his massive deal with Atlanta and carries a cap number of $40 million in ’25. Cousins has $27.5 million in guaranteed salary slated for next season, but none after that point.

The way Cousins’ deal is structured makes it nearly prohibitive for Atlanta to trade him away pre-June 1. The Falcons would save just $2.5 million on his cap number, while a trade during offseason workouts, training camp or the upcoming season would only saddle Atlanta with $12.5 million in dead money.

Atlanta could also cut Cousins before the fifth day of the 2025 league year, when he is due a $10 million signing bonus for the 2026 season. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported in December that a Cousins release is considered the most likely outcome.