The long-awaited first game of the Falcons 2024 season is just days away, and the head coach and quarterback had some things to address today at a press conference at the team’s Flowery Branch headquarters.
Raheem Morris
-TE Kyle Pitts and LB Nate Landman were limited in practice today because of injuries. Pitts with a hamstring injury and Landman a quad injury. Morris told the surprised press on hand that he wasn’t too concerned if Pitts’ injury would affect his Sunday performance, and that he was just being transparent about his status. “It really hasn’t affected him too much.”
-Morris says QB Kirk Cousins is full go and has been for a while, but that doesn’t mean he’s not concerned about his getting hit.
-He said he has no resentment toward former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, who is now a defensive coach for the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers.
-Morris is more excited than worried about the previously injured Cousins and tackler Grady Jarrett returning to action this Sunday.
-Morris says his team is ready for the challenge T.J. Watt poses for the Falcons. They won’t “let him go out there and wreck the game. That’s the game plan,” he said.
-More on Falcons prep: “[Steelers head coach] Mike Tomlin told me to prepare for Justin Fields, so we did.” Morris and Tomilin are close friends.
Kirk Cousins
-While the Falcons practiced after Morris’ press conference, word broke of the tragic shooting that killed 4 people and injured 9 at the nearby Apalachee High School. Cousins addressed this news first, stating that Morris informed the team of the shooting after practice. “That was pretty sobering,” Cousins said. “Our prayers, [we are] praying with the families affected. The school, the community. It’s a tough deal. I’m gonna go home tonight and hug and kiss my kids.”
-Cousins was asked to describe the Falcons offensive line this year using three words. His answers: explosive, edge, executing, and effort, or “the four E’s.”