Earlier this month, quarterback Kirk Cousins admitted to an injury the Falcons were not fully aware of.

Terrin Waack

INDIANAPOLIS Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw the NFL world for a loop earlier this month when he revealed on "Good Morning Football" that he injured his right shoulder and elbow during the Atlanta Falcons' Week 10 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

And apparently, it lingered.

"From there, (I was) kind of dealing with that,"Cousins said Feb. 4. "It was something that I was working through and just never really could get it to where I wanted it."

The severity of that injury was not shared with the Falcons.

Cousins played every offensive snap in the Week 10 loss, completing 23 of his 38 passes for 306 yards and an interception. He appeared on the following Wednesday's estimated injury report as limited due to his right shoulder and elbow, but he was a full participant Thursday and Friday in actual practice and did not receive a game designation for the Falcons' Week 11 game against the Denver Broncos. Cousins did not appear on another injury report through the remainder of the season.

That was essentially the recap Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot provided Tuesday at the 2025 NFL Combine.

"He was on the injury report that one week," Fontenot said. "When a player's injured, we put him on the injury report. That's the only time he was on the injury report. So, as far as we're concerned, that's the only injury we were aware of."

Week 10 was the first of four consecutive losses for the Falcons, the beginning of Cousins' 2024 downfall as starter.

In those four games, Cousins threw eight interceptions, no touchdowns. He started the Falcons' Week 15 win against the Las Vegas Raiders, ending his touchdown drought with a pass to Drake London, but it was too little too late. Before Atlanta's Week 16 game against the New York Giants, the Falcons named rookie Michael Penix Jr. the starting quarterback.

"The reason we made the change when we made it was because we had some bad decisions go along that way," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "It was well documented the interceptions that we threw. It was well documented the amount of touchdowns we had at that point. And it was well documented the trust and the confidence that I had for us to be able to bounce back. So, when we didn't do those things, you have to make those changes."

Fontenot also made it clear the quarterback switch was "a football decision" and not injury related.

Any conversations between the Falcons and Cousins since the "Good Morning Football" segment have been deemed private.

Atlanta maintains its player performance team did everything correct when it came to reporting injuries to the league throughout the season. Whether a player decides to withhold injury information is not within the team's control. Cousins appeared to have gone about his business as usual, and therefore, so did the Falcons.

"I was there," Morris said. "I watched his practice. I watched us go through the process. So, I felt the same way I feel about it now: We put the best person out there in order for us to try to get a win every single week, and that was the decision that was made."

Up Next

Videos

Terry Fontenot on future of Atlanta Falcons | 2025 NFL Scouting Combine | Press Conference

Videos

5 Cornerbacks the Atlanta Falcons could consider in Free Agency | Atlanta Falcons Podcast Network

Videos

5 Edge Rushers the Atlanta Falcons could consider in Free Agency | Atlanta Falcons Podcast Network

Videos

Falcons Unplugged presented by AT&T with Lauren Fisher and Warren Parr

Videos

On The Rise | S4E9 | A bright future and increased expectations for the Atlanta Falcons in 2025

Videos

Bijan Robinson and KhaDarel Hodge go to Walt Disney World

Videos

Three-time Pro Bowler Chris Lindstrom mic'd up in 2025 Pro Bowl Games

Videos

Bijan Robinson mic'd up in 2025 Pro Bowl Games

Videos

Chris Lindstrom and NFC dominate in Tug of War competition | Pro Bowl Games 2025

Videos

Chris Lindstrom and KhaDarel Hodge are Mic'd Up at Pro Bowl Practice

Videos

Michael Penix Jr's top plays of 2024 | Highlights

Videos

Kaden Elliss' top plays of 2024 | Highlights

Videos

What we've learned about Jeff Ulbrich & reactions to first press conference | Falcons Final Whistle Podcast

Videos

Jeff Ulbrich introductory press conference | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Exclusive Jeff Ulbrich interview with Atlanta Falcons' Tori McElhaney - Falcons Defensive Coordinator

Videos

Jessie Bates III's top plays of 2024 | Highlights

Videos

Is Jeff Ulbrich the right pick for defensive coordinator? | Falcons Final Whistle

Videos

Top cinematic moments from the Atlanta Falcons 2024 season! | Cinematic Recap | NFL

Videos

Atlanta Falcons hire Jeff Ulbrich as new Defensive Coordinator | Falcons Audible Podcast

Videos

Getting to know what drives A.J. Terrell Jr. | Falcons in Focus Podcast

Videos

BEST Mic'd Up from 2024 Season | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Every Falcons sack of 2024 | Highlights

Videos

Every Falcons interception of 2024 | Highlights

Videos

Names to consider in Falcons search for next defensive coordinator | Atlanta Falcons Podcast Network

Videos

Falcons make coaching changes, breaking down GM Fontenot's comments | Falcons Audible Podcast

Videos

Every Falcons touchdown of 2024 | Highlights

Videos

Top 10 plays of 2024 | Highlights

Videos

Breaking down Michael Penix Jr's first 3 starts as an Atlanta Falcon | Film Review

Videos

Terry Fontenot's presser & first annual 'Final Whistles' | Falcons Final Whistle

Videos

T.J. Yates on finding your place and staying ready for all moments | Falcons in Focus Podcast

Videos

Terry Fontenot end of season press conference | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Atlanta Falcons' 2024 season comes to a close, looking ahead to offseason | Falcons Audible Podcast

Videos

Tight End Charlie Woerner mic'd up for his hometown team | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Raheem Morris reflects on Atlanta Falcons 2024 season | Press Conference

Videos

Michael Penix Jr., Grady Jarrett and Kaden Elliss reflect on 2024 season | Press Conferences

Videos

Atlanta's season is over what does the future hold? | Falcons Final Whistle

Videos

Bijan Robinson's best plays from 173-yard, 2-TD game Week 18

Videos

Drake London's best plays from 2-TD game Week 18

Videos

Michael Penix Jr. reacts to Falcons - Panthers overtime results & offers initial thoughts on conclusion of 2024 season | Press Conference

Videos

Raheem Morris reflects on Atlanta Falcons final regular season game vs the Carolina Panthers | Press Conference