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Packers, QB Love sign four-year, $220 million contract

Quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​took the field for the Atlanta Falcons’ first practice after being cleared by the team’s medical staff to participate.

Head coach Raheem Morris told reporters Thursday that Cousins, who is recovering from a torn right Achilles tendon he suffered in October, will face minor limitations during training camp, but is expected to handle most of the first-team training.

“Obviously we’ll make some adjustments, like we did with Kirk in the spring, but he’s ready,” Morris said.

“He’s enthusiastic, the team is enthusiastic. You won’t notice the limitations for him.”

Cousins ​​suffered the injury on Oct. 29 in what turned out to be his final game with the Minnesota Vikings. The four-time Pro Bowl selection signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons in March to address the team’s most glaring need: a top-tier starting quarterback.

The soon-to-be 36-year-old is expected to open the season as Atlanta’s starter despite the Falcons selecting former University of Washington star quarterback Michael Penix eighth overall in this year’s draft.

Cousins ​​did participate in some drills during the Falcons’ offseason training activities in May, but it was mostly individual work.

“I think the precaution (in OTAs), I think it was pretty helpful in how we approach things to keep people away from him,” Morris said. “Now, there’s going to be people around him, and we feel comfortable doing that and doing some of those things.

“Obviously some of those limitations are going to show up in our individual practices. We have to make sure we don’t exhaust him to the point where we want to do all of the team practices with him.”

Cousins ​​was in the midst of another strong season in 2023, as he led the NFL in touchdown passes (18) at the time of his Week 8 injury. The 12-year veteran completed 69.5 percent of his passes for 2,331 yards with five interceptions in eight games, though the injury kept him from likely reaching 4,000 passing yards for a fourth straight season.

Morris is also in his first season as the Falcons’ permanent head coach, though he went 4-7 in 2020 as the team’s interim coach after Atlanta fired Dan Quinn during the season.

Atlanta has gone 7-10 over the past three seasons and has missed the playoffs for six straight seasons, tying them with the Carolina Panthers for the longest-tenured teams in the NFC.

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