The Atlanta Falcons‘ failure to secure a playoff spot appears to have taken a heavy toll on quarterback Kirk Cousins. The disappointment extends even further from his own side of the game, as his performances couldn’t even help him secure a spot in the top 28 QB rankings this season. However, it seems like Cousins has found his own way of keeping himself busy while other teams in the league continue to focus on the Red Zone.

“If you make the playoffs, you spend Thursday night watching Red Zone tape. If you don’t, you go to neighborhood bingo,” Cousins wrote on Instagram, sharing a picture of himself playing Bimbo in what appears to be a small social gathering.

The ongoing season saw Kirk Cousins deliver a modest statistical output for Atlanta across 10 games. He completed 166 of 269 passes (61.7%) for 1,721 yards, throwing 10 touchdowns against five interceptions. His yards per attempt dipped to 6.4, while his passer rating (84.8) and QBR (48.1) also reflected below-average efficiency. Comparatively, Cousins’ time with the Minnesota Vikings saw him regularly produce (except for the 2023 season) 4,000-plus yards, 25–35 touchdowns, and passer ratings near or above 100.

In the latest development, the team has reworked his contract in a move that effectively accelerates the timeline on a decision about his future with the franchise. The revised deal includes a major financial trigger tied to the 2027 season that activates on March 13, the third day of the 2026 NFL league year. On that date, $67.9 million would become fully guaranteed, a commitment that would likely deter both the Falcons and any potential trade partner. As a result, a call on the quarterback’s future is expected well before the deadline.

The revision also lowered Cousins’ 2026 base salary from $35 million to $2.1 million. And the remaining $32.9 million was shifted to the 2027 season, changing when the money is paid but not increasing what he is owed overall. This move gives Atlanta more short-term financial flexibility while setting a clear timeline for determining whether the veteran quarterback remains part of the team’s long-term plans.

Atlanta Falcons owner snubs Kirk Cousins, names Michael Penix Jr. as franchise QB

The Atlanta Falcons entered the offseason with several organizational changes. They parted ways with head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot earlier in the week. Owner Arthur Blank addressed the decisions publicly on Thursday. However, his agenda also included outlining the franchise’s broader plans, including its search for a president of football operations and the quarterback situation.

Kirk Cousins stepped in after Michael Penix Jr. was sidelined in Week 11, guiding a 3–7 team to five wins in his final seven starts. However, despite the consistency, Blank made it clear that the management has been looking forward to having Michael Penix Jr. back in the game.

“We look forward to having Michael back,” Blank told reporters. “He’s had a good surgery. I spoke with the with the medical staff, seems to have gone well. Kirk, we’ll see what’ll happen with him moving forward. I do think Michael is our franchise quarterback. The injury he sustained was on his other knee. The surgeon felt 1,000% secure in the medical procedure they went through. They felt his knee would be better than before. He’s on a successful rehab program.”

While the team has already made changes to Cousins’ contract, the QB will likely look forward to seeking a new position. However, there’s still no talks about it, and meanwhile, the team continues to rebuild their coaching team and management.