When your starting defense’s biggest challenge in practice is the guy running the second-team offense, you know you have a unique situation. “It’s incredible,” Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss said about facing his team’s backup quarterback. “He’s playing a game out there. We’re not just getting practice reps… It’s not like the guy that’s a second-[teamer], or a rookie that’s just trying to remember what his plays are.” That kind of praise isn’t typical for a QB2, but then again, nothing about Kirk Cousins ’ situation in Atlanta is typical.

After losing his starting job to rookie Michael Penix Jr. late last season, the entire league spent the spring speculating on the veteran’s future. Cousins made his desires known, even lobbying owner Arthur Blank for a release to find

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