Kirk Cousins says he’s here to support Michael Penix Jr. in any way possible, but he’s cognizant of not being “another weight, another voice” as the young QB balances a lot going into his first full year as the #Falcons starter. pic.twitter.com/cnkzr8dU0h

— Kelly Price (@thekellyprice) June 10, 2025

After an offseason filled with trade speculation, the Atlanta Falcons and quarterback Kirk Cousins are moving forward together. The team has been unable to find a trade partner, and while Cousins would prefer to play elsewhere, he showed up for Day 1 of mandatory minicamp and did his job.

Cousins met with the media following Tuesday’s practice and addressed a variety of topics, including his desire to play, his relationship with Michael Penix Jr., and the injury that eventually cost him his job last season.The veteran QB acknowledged his offseason trade request but said he’s ready to move forward and accept his role.

“Obviously, I would love to play,” said Cousins. “But I’m not going to dwell on things that aren’t reality. That’s not the situation I am in. So, I think, it’s better to be focused on the situation I’m in.”

Cousins is adjusting to life as a backup quarterback role and knows how important it is to be focused on his job in Atlanta. “I think right now, it’s about the situation I’m in and being the best I can, and hopefully in February, we as an organization are holding up a Lombardi trophy.”

The 36-year-old understands that his presence could be a distraction but made it clear that he will do everything possible to help Penix succeed this season in a way that isn’t overbearing.

“I am just here to support him as he needs it,” explained Cousins. “But, I also don’t need to be in his ear so much that I am another weight, another voice. I just want to be able to support as I can, and he knows that.”

Cousins was also asked to clarify previous comments he made about attempting to play through injury during the team’s four-game losing streak last season but said his struggles were due to a combination of issues.

“I don’t think it is a simple cut and dry answer,” Cousins said. “I think when you look at the way the season was going, and that hit and kind of where things went after that it feels like it was an inflection point. But if we were to watch the tape together, I can’t sit here and blame every mistake I made on that. It’s somewhere in the middle.”

Regardless of how he feels about last season, Cousins seems to be serious about moving forward in his new role.