QBs Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson test new digs with Falcons, Steelers

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — When the Atlanta Falcons host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular-season opener Sunday, veteran quarterbacks eager to make a statement with their new teams are center stage.

For Atlanta, all eyes will be on the revamped offense led by 36-year-old quarterback Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract in March to leave Minnesota.

The four-time Pro Bowler threw for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns in eight games with the Vikings in 2023 before tearing his Achilles. Cousins replaces Desmond Ridder in Atlanta.

The offseason additions have the Falcons in the conversation in the NFC South as they vie for their first winning season and postseason appearance since 2017.

“I’m very aware of the perception right now that our offense is going to be really great,” Cousins said. “We’ve got all these great players, but that’s only perception. It’s our job to make it reality. Until we go on the field and do it, I don’t feel any assurance on that.”

Sunday marks the start of a new era on the Atlanta sideline. Raheem Morris was named Falcons head coach in January. Morris was previously Atlanta’s interim coach for the final 11 games of 2020, going 4-7, as well as leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 17-31 record from 2009-11.

Morris, 48, was hired following three seasons as the Rams defensive coordinator.Assuming the role as head coach for the first time since the end of the 2020 season, Morris hasn’t let the moment get to him but knows what’s coming Sunday.

“My jitters usually don’t hit until right before the national anthem,” Morris said. “I don’t know if it’s the emotion of the anthem or what, but a grayness hits you and you’re ready to go play. In the preparation of it all, you build so much confidence in your process that you feel really calm about how you want to go about your business.”

Morris will face off against a former colleague in Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. The two were defensive assistants together in Tampa from 2002-05 and remain friends.

Tomlin and the Steelers will roll out a new-look offense headed up by former Falcons coach Arthur Smith and a new quarterback.

Russell Wilson, who was released by the Denver Broncos, was named the starter last week over Justin Fields, who as acquired from the Bears.

Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks, won the starting job in the offseason and appears ready to lead Pittsburgh in a competitive AFC North.

“I’m super excited to be here,” Wilson said. “Obviously, I came here to help us win. That’s the focus. I think the best part is how hard we’ve worked from OTA’s to Latrobe (training camp). We’ve got a great season ahead of us.”

After a legendary Seahawks career, Wilson spent a pair of tumultuous seasons in Denver, where he was benched for the last two weeks of 2023 as a way for the Broncos to “preserve financial flexibility.” Wilson then signed a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum with Pittsburgh.

The all-time series between the Falcons and Steelers has been largely one-sided, with Pittsburgh holding a 15-2-1 edge. Atlanta’s last win was on Oct. 22, 2006.

In Wednesday’s injury report, Morris noted that linebacker Nate Landman (quad) and tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring) were both limited Wednesday. Morris said he isn’t concerned about Pitts’ status for Week 1.

Steelers starting left guard Isaac Seumalo is out for the season opener after leaving an August 28 practice with a pectoral injury. Center Nate Herbig, however, will miss the season with a torn rotator cuff.

–Jack Batten, Field Level Media

Eagles, Packers insist it’s business as usual for opener in Brazil

Philadelphia hasn’t lost a game in September since 2021 and is 3-0 in season openers under coach Nick Sirianni.

The Eagles will try to extend that success in a different hemisphere in Friday night’s unprecedented Week 1 date with the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the first NFL regular-season game in South America.

“It’s going to be good for us to go play in a neutral site and handle the different things that pop up in the NFL,” Sirianni said.

“… There are things you can’t control. What we can control is our effort, we can control our attitude, we can control our core values, and we’re going to focus on that this week.”

Philadelphia won its first eight games and started 13-1 in 2022 en route to advancing to Super Bowl LVII. The Eagles won their first five contests and started 10-1 last season before losing in the wild-card round.

Green Bay is coming off its fourth playoff appearance in five seasons under coach Matt LaFleur. The Packers lost to the San Francisco 49ers on a late Christian McCaffrey touchdown run in the divisional round last season after a wild-card victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

It’s a business trip to Brazil for both teams with no time for sightseeing. The Eagles planned to arrive Wednesday night after a 10-hour flight, hold a walk-through at Corinthians Arena on Thursday, and fly straight back to Philadelphia after Friday night’s game.

“We’re professionals,” Eagles receiver A.J. Brown said. “We’re down there to win a football game. We’re not down there to see the city, do all this other stuff. This is not a vacation. This is a football game.”

The Packers arranged a 10-hour direct flight leaving from Green Bay on Wednesday morning and, as the “visiting” team, they will hold their walk-through Thursday at the Corinthians soccer club’s training ground.

“It’s not going to be anything crazy that we’ve never done before, and I would expect the same from Philly,” LaFleur said. “… I’ve only talked to our guys about the Philadelphia Eagles, and what we need to do.”

The quick turnaround time may be disruptive, but it also gives NFL officials and players who are concerned about security some peace of mind.

“I do not want to go to Brazil,” Eagles cornerback Darius Slay said on his “Big Play Slay” podcast this week. “They already told us not to leave the hotel. They told us we can’t do too much because the crime rate is crazy. NFL, why do you want to send us somewhere where the crime rate is so high?”

A massive mural of starting quarterbacks Jalen Hurts of the Eagles and Jordan Love of the Packers adorns the side of a building in downtown Sao Paulo, but the spotlight in the stadium will be on the running backs.

Saquon Barkley, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, joined Philadelphia after six seasons and more than 5,000 rushing yards with the division-rival New York Giants.

Josh Jacobs, the 2022 NFL rushing leader and also a two-time Pro Bowl pick, signed with Green Bay after five seasons and more than 5,500 rushing yards with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders.

“I’m just trying to not let it be me, the guy who messes it up,” Jacobs said. “That’s my biggest thing going into Game 1 is just trying to be very disciplined in my keys, and try to put my little spin on it when I get a chance.”

On the injury front, Eagles linebacker Devin White (ankle) will miss Friday’s game, and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (hand) had limited participation in practice on Wednesday.

Rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) did not participate in practice for the Packers on Tuesday. On limited duties were linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hip), receiver Romeo Doubs (hand), running back Emanuel Wilson (hip), and cornerback Carrington Valentine (hamstring).

–Field Level Media