Quarterback Kirk Cousins has taken some exhausting hits in his NFL profession, however he by no means wanted surgical procedure to restore an damage he sustained till Week 8 of the 2023 marketing campaign.
Cousins suffered a torn Achilles, and in a flash, his season was completed with surgical procedure imminent to restore the ligament.
“It’s uncharted territory for me,” Cousins informed Fox Information Digital in the future after the offseason exercise interval got here to an finish along with his new group, the Atlanta Falcons.
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Quarterback Kirk Cousins, #18 of the Atlanta Falcons, speaks to the media throughout OTA offseason exercises on the Atlanta Falcons coaching facility on Could 14, 2024 in Flowery Department, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Pictures)
Cousins discovered a brand new house within the NFL in free company just a few months again, however the veteran sign caller was not fearful about that in late October 2023, when he knew he wanted to go below the knife, and tackle a rehab course of he knew nothing about after the actual fact.
It’s a scary thought for anybody, not to mention a 35-year-old quarterback, to consider the daunting restoration course of forward. Nonetheless, Cousins took issues in stride and received some assist from others, together with New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers, after all, tore his Achilles 4 performs into his new tenure with the Jets and was already in his personal restoration course of when Cousins tore his seven weeks later.
FALCONS LOSE DRAFT PICK, FINED BY NFL FOR TAMPERING DURING KIRK COUSINS PURSUIT
“Aaron’s a pair months forward of me,” mentioned Cousins, who additionally mentioned how he “recharges the batteries” throughout his summer time on his Manitou Pontoon Boat in Michigan earlier than coaching camp. “I reached out to him earlier than surgical procedure again in late October, and we had a superb dialog.”
With Rodgers particularly, Cousins defined how he would use him as a “benchmark” for his restoration, giving him a “good indicator of the place you might be in two months.”
There may be additionally those that recovered from their Achilles.
Aaron Rodgers, #8 of the New York Jets, seems to be on through the nationwide anthem previous to a sport in opposition to the Buffalo Payments at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 11, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Michael Owens/Getty Pictures)
“I like speaking to people who find themselves 4, 5, six years faraway from an Achilles tear,” he mentioned. “After I appeared up individuals who’d torn one, it’s extra frequent than I’d realized – among the many NBA, amongst former quarterbacks. Athletes generally, and guys who went on to have success post-Achilles tear. So, it was encouraging to see the careers folks have had earlier than and after an Achilles tear.”
When Cousins had his restoration course of damaged down for him, he mentioned it was a nine-month journey earlier than he may actually get again on the sector and begin going by drills. That was purported to be Aug. 1 of this yr.
“They mentioned that you simply don’t actually really feel again to your self till 12 months, however you might be again on the sector before that,” Cousins mentioned. “I had hoped to be again before 9 months, however wasn’t positive. At OTAs, we had these practices, and after I first received injured, they mentioned, ‘You’ll sit out of these practices, however coaching camp you’ll be good to go.’”
Nonetheless, when it got here time to hitch his Falcons teammates for OTAs, Cousins was seen along with his crimson jersey, black helmet and on the sector throwing the ball. As he put it, a “optimistic course of.”
“I wasn’t going one million miles an hour, however I used to be in a position to get these reps and I felt like that basically helped me get to know my teammates, get to know the system, get comfy,” he mentioned. “That was a step in the suitable route. Now, over the summer time break, it’s about persevering with the rehab, so I can get nearer to full pace by coaching camp and definitely by Week 1.”
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, #8, seems to be on from the sidelines through the second half of an NFL soccer sport between the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto by way of Getty Pictures)
For a competitor comparable to Cousins, it’s exhausting not having the ability to go full pace, particularly in a brand new state of affairs. Nonetheless, the one elementary half about Achilles restoration that he has realized – and nonetheless learns about every single day – is how there’s a tightrope to stroll when it comes to pushing the physique to get again to full power.
“They informed me after I first injured it that you’ve got this line in your rehab that you simply wish to push up in opposition to,” he mentioned, selecting up his arms and placing them shut collectively. “You’re not going to get again quick if you’re again right here and never pushing it. However you can’t cross the road, as a result of whenever you cross the road, you additionally set your self again.
“So, it’s been this dance of attempting to determine am I pushing it sufficient the place I’m asking my physique to take that subsequent step within the therapeutic course of? However am I pushing too exhausting, additionally, and attempting to go up in opposition to that line and never cross it? That basically is the definition of excellent high quality rehab, so I’ve been looking for that since day one.”
The Falcons noticed sufficient again in March once they dished out a four-year deal to Cousins price $180 million with $100 million assured. Nonetheless, neither social gathering will really know the way he might be on the gridiron in yr 13 coming off his hardest damage but.
Cousins continues to work towards that second the place he can show he’s nonetheless the most effective quarterbacks within the league, one who can lead the Falcons again to the playoffs for the primary time since 2017.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins, #18 of the Atlanta Falcons, seems to be to move throughout OTA offseason exercises on the Atlanta Falcons coaching facility on Could 14, 2024 in Flowery Department, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Pictures)
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In doing so, maybe Cousins might be the one others name for recommendation on the best way to get to the purpose of success post-Achilles tear.
“I’m hoping to have the ability to add my identify to that checklist,” Cousins mentioned with a smile.
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