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Falcons QB Kirk Cousins cleared to practice after torn Achilles


FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has been medically cleared to practice in training camp, coach Raheem Morris said Thursday.

Cousins’ 2023 season ended when he tore his right Achilles in Week 8. He was able to practice with few limitations in the spring during OTAs and minicamp. There was a question of whether or not Cousins would be able to practice in training camp, with the potential of players being near him and around his legs.

But Morris said the Falcons would be “comfortable” with that at this stage. Cousins will take the vast majority of the first-team snaps in camp, though there will still be minor restrictions for him. The team’s first practice is scheduled for Thursday morning.

“The limitations for [Cousins], you won’t notice,” Morris said.

Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed in the offseason. He filled the team’s biggest need: quarterback play. The Falcons struggled at the position last year with Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, leading to team owner Arthur Blank dubbing Atlanta’s performance there as “deficient.”

Cousins, 35, threw for more than 4,000 yards and for 29 or more touchdowns in the three previous seasons before the injury. He was leading the NFL in touchdown passes (18) when he went down last October.

The Falcons also drafted a quarterback with the No. 8 overall pick in the April draft: Michael Penix Jr. out of the University of Washington. That was a major surprise considering the signing of Cousins.

Morris said Thursday that Penix will split second-team reps with Heinicke during training camp, like he did in OTAs and minicamp.

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