OTAs are in full force for the Minnesota Vikings and the rest of the NFL this week. For Kirk Cousins, however, the former Vikings quarterback decided not to attend the voluntary OTA practice session held by the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday. This is not something that he ever did during his tenure with the Vikings.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris shared on Tuesday that he did not see Cousins in attendance as the team continues its preparation for the upcoming 2025 season.
Despite his $40 million cap hit, Atlanta has made it clear multiple times this year that the former Minnesota quarterback is going to be the team's No. 2 signal-caller behind Michael Penix Jr. for the 2025 campaign. Cousins is clearly not okay with that, and his no-show on Tuesday appears to be his way of sending a message to the Falcons.
Where could the Atlanta Falcons trade former Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins?
While the former Vikings passer is frustrated with his current role in Atlanta, he doesn't really have many other options if he wants to be on an NFL roster next season.
Currently, the Pittsburgh Steelers seem like the only realistic possible landing spot left for Cousins this year, and that will depend on whether they sign free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers or not.
If the Steelers go with Rodgers, then Cousins will be left with either remaining with the Falcons or hoping for another team's starting signal-caller to get injured so he can play the role of savior, à la Sam Bradford in Minnesota in 2016.
To be fair with all of this, the current OTA practice sessions taking place around the NFL are voluntary, so there is no requirement for Cousins to actually be in attendance. However, Atlanta probably would've like to have him at its facilities to help Penix adjust to becoming the team's full-time starter.
Throughout his pro career, Cousins has always tried to say that he's all about the team and he'll do whatever it takes to help the team. But, as was the case when he was with the Vikings, his actions speak louder than his words, and his absence on Tuesday says he's currently not about the betterment of the Falcons.