NFL fans stunned as Kirk Cousins admits not being 100% after Achilles return - "Hang up the cleats"; "Why is he playing"

Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons came into their Monday Night Football battle against the Philadelphia Eagles on the back of a dismal offensive display in their season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They scored only 10 points and turned the ball over thrice, giving the visitors just enough opportunities to win the game.

The Falcons' playcalling perplexed fans and analysts alike. They did not call a single play with Cousins starting under center. The quarterback and the offense were in pistol or shotgun formation for all 50 plays, making them predictable and the Steelers' life easier on defense.

The lack of play-action calls prompted many to speculate that Cousins hadn't fully recovered from the season-ending Achilles tear he suffered in Week 8 of the 2023 season. During the broadcast of the Falcons' game against the Eagles on Monday night, analyst Troy Aikman confirmed the suspicions live on-air:

"I know when talking with Kirk he says he's not 100% but yet he feels that he's 100% in the pocket," Aikman said while commenting ahead of the game.

Fans expressed their shock and anger on social media about the Falcons' decision to field Cousins despite knowing he's yet to recover from his Achilles rupture, increasing the risk of him suffering another severe injury:

Some fans demanded the team bench Cousins and field rookie Michael Penix Jr.:

"Time to pull my Penix Pump out the closet," one fan said.

"Cousins can't even plant his feet. He needs to get healthy first. Penix should be playing," another fan said.

"Penix gonna be starting by Week 6," one fan added.

Kirk Cousins' improved outing in Week 2 vs. Eagles

While fans clamored on social media for him to be benched, Cousins led the Falcons to an upset win over the Eagles. The veteran completed 20 of his 29 pass attempts for 246 yards and two touchdowns.

In the game-winning drive, Cousins completed five of his six passes for 71 yards, with the last being a seven-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Drake London that leveled the score before kicker Younghoe Koo converted the extra-point attempt and gave the Falcons a one-point lead.

It was Cousins' 30th career game-winning drive including the playoffs and perhaps one of the most important, considering the pressure he was under after his dismal Week 1 outing.