Whether it’s the Atlanta Falcons’ standout mainstay Grady Jarrett or their ballyhooed offseason acquisition Kirk Cousins, Sunday’s season opener is a long time coming.
As misfortune would have it, Cousins and Jarrett each suffered season-ending injuries in Week 8 of the 2023 season. Now, both will return to the field together as the Falcons begin a new Atlanta era under head coach Raheem Morris.
It would be unsurprising for Morris to be uneasy about Cousins’ return from an Achilles tear or Jarrett’s comeback from a torn ACL. Morris isn’t consumed with concern though, he’s thrilled to see the former Pro Bowlers lead the Falcons.
“Just being able to go out there and watch (Jarrett) play, no different than Kirk,” Morris said Wednesday, “I believe the question was, ‘Am I worried about it?’ It’s more that you’re excited for them. Both of the guys.”
With Morris and a new coaching staff, the additions of Cousins, pass rusher Matt Judon, safety Justin Simmons and more this offseason, the return of Falcons stalwart Jarrett has been somewhat overshadowed. But the return of the two-time Pro Bowler defensive tackle should be a boon for Morris’ defense and then some.
“Really excited for Grady,” said Morris of the soon-to-be 10-year veteran.
Jarrett, 31, was often a bright spot for a Falcons defense that struggled in recent seasons, providing some pass-rushing punch up the middle and stout run support. Prior to last year, Jarrett hadn’t missed a game since 2018. He had played in 84 consecutive games when he suffered his ACL tear during an Oct. 29, 2023, loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Roughly 680 miles north on the very same day, Cousins’ season concluded with a torn Achilles.
About 10 months later, Cousins’ Falcons debut and return from injury will coincide with Jarrett’s comeback.
Neither was on the team’s first injury report of the year.
Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million pact to join Atlanta this season, is and has been a full-go for a quite some time.
“He’s been full-go for a while now,” Morris said. “We said it was a natural limitation with the OTA days of staying away from everybody, everybody’s staying up. And then once training camp started, he’s really been full-go. I’ve kind of protected him a little with the whistle, quick whistle for no scrambles, but other than that, man, he’s full-go. I wouldn’t send him out there limited versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’m lying, I would.”
Morris can’t help Cousins, 36, with a quick whistle, now, of course. Nonetheless, the excitement to see Cousins start his first Falcons game overshadows any anxiety, especially as it relates to a four-time Pro Bowl QB who never had a significant injury until last season.
“It’s hard to say that you’re worried about Kirk getting hit (considering) his 13-year career,” Morris said. “I mean the guy’s done it a bunch. But definitely there’s always some stuff with injury. Guys in this game are built for that. That’s why they’re a different breed, different animal, different type of guys that go out there and play this game, and he’s definitely one of those. I’ve known Kirk from 2012 as a very young, tough guy ready to stand in there and take a hit at any time, and I don’t think that’s one of the things that requires to be practiced when you’re a quarterback. I got a lot of respect for that guy and his toughness.”
There are storylines aplenty for the Falcons on Sunday against the Steelers. Not the least of which is that Jarrett and Cousins’ comebacks will coincide, their returns kicking off Morris’ tenure and providing the head coach with far more excitement than concern.