Cousins agreed Tuesday to restructure the final two seasons of his four-year, $180 million contract, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

As part of the restructure, Cousins agreed to reduce his base salary for the 2026 season from a non-guaranteed $35 million to 2.1 million, but the amended deal doesn't necessarily mean that the veteran quarterback will stick around with Atlanta through the upcoming season. Cousins is still guaranteed $67.9 million for the 2027 season, with that money scheduled to vest March 13, the third day of the new league year. Given that Atlanta nor any other team would have interest in being tied to Cousins at that amount of money in 2027, the 37-year-old signal-caller may have to agree to another restructure in order to avoid being designated for a post-June 1 release. After opening the 2025 season in a backup role, Cousins reclaimed the starting job for the Falcons' final seven games after Michael Penix (knee) tore his ACL in Week 11. In his 10 total appearances, Cousins completed 166 of 269 pass attempts (61.7 percent) for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions while tacking on another rushing touchdown.

Cousins completed 18 of 32 passes for 180 yards with a touchdown and an interception while adding three carries for no gain in the Falcons' 19-17 win over the Saints on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Cousins, who was dealing with an illness that came on overnight, averaged a modest 5.6 yards per attempt and took four sacks, so it wasn't the smoothest of afternoons for the veteran signal-caller. However, Cousins was able to fire a 15-yard touchdown pass to Drake London late in the first quarter, and he displayed his usual chemistry with both his No. 1 receiver and tight end Kyle Pitts. Cousins opened the season with a bleak fantasy outlook and uncertain future as the No. 2 quarterback behind Michael Penix (IR, knee), but the former started the final seven games (and eight overall). Cousins completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards with a 10:5 TD:INT while adding 14 rushes for seven yards and another score across 10 appearances overall. Penix should have a solid chance of being ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, while Cousins remains under contract with the Falcons through the 2027 campaign.

Cousins was added to the Falcons' injury report due to an illness but won't have a designation for Sunday's game against the Saints and will be available to start at quarterback, Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cousins was a full participant in practice throughout the week, but he may be operating at something less than 100 percent heading into the season finale after coming down with an illness. More so than the ailment, however, Cousins' fantasy prospects could be hindered by the prospect of some of his top pass catchers being less than fully healthy. Though wideouts Drake London (knee) and Darnell Mooney (knee) and tight end Kyle Pitts (knee) are active Sunday, all were listed as questionable heading into the weekend and were limited in the Falcons' final Week 18 practice. As such, it's possible that any or all three players could have their reps managed to some degree, given that the 7-9 Falcons are eliminated from playoff contention and have little on the line in the season finale.

Cousins completed 13 of 20 passes for 126 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions while adding one rush for one yard in the Falcons' 27-24 win over the Rams on Monday night.

EDGE Analysis

Cousins opened the scoring with a four-yard touchdown pass to Bijan Robinson in the first quarter, but the veteran signal-caller mostly sat back and saw Robinson and his defense do the majority of the heavy lifting from there. No Falcons pass catcher compiled more than David Sills' 37 receiving yards, although Cousins did record a critical 11-yard completion to Kyle Pitts to move the chains early in what turned out to be Atlanta's game-winning drive. Cousins has thrown for under 200 yards in three of the last four games, and he's likely to continue leaning heavily on Robinson during a Week 18 home regular-season finale against the Saints on Sunday.

Cousins completed 21 of 35 pass attempts for 197 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and a lost fumble while scoring a third touchdown and losing three yards on five carries in Sunday's 26-19 win over Arizona.

EDGE Analysis

Cousins was unable to replicate last week's vintage 373-yard performance, but he was able to reproduce the trio of touchdowns in another winning effort. The 36-year-old's third trip to the end zone came via a rare QB sneak in the fourth quarter that would end up serving as the game-deciding score Sunday. Cousins is beginning to show flashes of his former glory after looking rusty in his first few starts taking over for the injured Michael Penix (knee). While he is far from a sure thing, Cousins has at least put himself back in the conversation for potential starting options for fantasy managers in desperate QB situations. A Week 17 matchup against a tough Rams defensive unit dampens the excitement around the veteran starter for those in standard fantasy leagues.

Cousins completed 30 of 44 passes for 373 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in the Falcons' 29-28 win over the Buccaneers on Thursday night. He also fumbled once but recovered.

EDGE Analysis

Cousins' what-year-is-this performance was worthy of a double take, considering the veteran signal-caller had looked like he'd regressed considerably in his previous four starts and two in-game cameos prior to Thursday night. He had embarrassed the Buccaneers secondary last season in an unforgettable 509-yard, four-touchdown TNF performance as well, and this latest prolific effort went largely through tight end Kyle Pitts, who was on the receiving end of 11 of Cousins' completions totaling 166 yards and also recorded all three receiving touchdowns on the night. Cousins' performance was all the more noteworthy considering the absence of Drake London (knee), and it certainly brightens the outlook for the Falcons' air attack heading into a Week 16 road matchup against the Cardinals on Sunday, Dec. 21 that the talented wideout should have a good chance of being ready for.

Cousins completed 15 of 30 passes for 162 yards and two interceptions in Sunday's 37-9 loss to the Seahawks.

EDGE Analysis

The Falcons were limited to just three field goals on the day, as Cousins simply couldn't get anything going. The absence of Drake London (knee) was noticeable, as tight end Kyle Pitts was the only Atlanta pass catcher to make much of an impact. Cousins has a 3:3 TD:INT in three starts since Michael Penix (knee) was lost for the season, but the veteran QB might have more success in Week 15 against the Buccaneers.

Cousins completed 21 of 33 passes for 234 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Jets.

EDGE Analysis

Cousins had only 86 first-half passing yards but led a touchdown drive, capped by a one-yard Tyler Allgeier run, to tie the score at 7-7 with nine seconds left before halftime. Atlanta's first drive of the third quarter was also capped by a rushing score, this time on a five-yard Bijan Robinson run. Cousins then broke a 17-17 tie by connecting with David Sills for a nine-yard touchdown pass with 8:46 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Jets scored the game's final 10 points to drop Atlanta to 4-8. Despite the slow start, Cousins ultimately exceeded 200 passing yards for the first time this season, but Atlanta's passing game won't offer much fantasy appeal in Week 14 against the Seahawks, especially if top wide receiver Drake London (knee) misses a third consecutive game.

Cousins completed 16 of 23 pass attempts for 199 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while gaining five yards on two carries in Sunday's 24-10 win over New Orleans.

EDGE Analysis

Cousins earned his first win of the 2025 season in his second start for the Falcons after it was announced that starter Michael Penix (knee) will miss the remainder of the year. The 36-year-old Cousins experienced greater success compared to his spot-start in a loss to the Dolphins back in Week 8 and a pair of relief appearances that netted zero combined touchdowns. The highly-paid backup is unlikely to reach the elite levels of production we were used to seeing back in his heyday playing for Washington and Minnesota, but he proved on Sunday that he can still operate an NFL offense at a respectable level. Cousins will face another soft matchup against the Jets next Sunday, putting him on the map in deeper formats as a potential bye week or injury replacement.

The Falcons announced Wednesday that Cousins will take over as their starting quarterback beginning with Sunday's game at New Orleans after a second opinion confirmed that Michael Penix (knee) will require season-ending surgery to address a partially torn left ACL, Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cousins already looked to be in line to start at least four games after the Falcons relayed Monday that Penix would be headed to injured reserve, but now that the 25-year-old quarterback has been confirmed to need season-ending surgery, Cousins' run atop the depth chart will be extended. Per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com, head coach Raheem Morris said Wednesday that Easton Stick will be signed to the 53-man roster to work as Cousins' backup, while Kyle Trask will replace Stick on the team's practice squad. Cousins hasn't been productive in limited opportunities this season, as the Falcons have scored just one touchdown across the 17 offensive drives he's led so far (not counting kneel-downs). Though he draws a favorable matchup for his second start of the season against the 2-8 Saints, Cousins will have to make do without one of his top pass-catching options in Drake London (knee), who is week-to-week with a PCL injury.