Two teams that have had a hard time with the most important position on the field are giving it another try to fix their quarterback issues.
For the Atlanta Falcons, Kirk Cousins, who was signed for $180 million, is now in charge of the offense. The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking at Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to revive their careers after struggling in their previous teams.
The first game of the season on Sunday will be the first chance to see if either team is finally making progress.
“You feel that sense of urgency as much as you ever have,” Cousins said.
After Matt Ryan’s time with the Falcons ended, the team briefly tried Marcus Mariota as quarterback, but he didn’t last even one full season. Last year, the Falcons switched between Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, leading to another losing season.
Now Cousins is here, having signed a four-year deal with $100 million guaranteed. Even though he is coming off an Achilles tendon injury that ended his last season with the Vikings early, he looks like a big improvement over the previous quarterbacks.
“We have done a lot to build, and now it counts,” Cousins said. “I’ve been standing here for weeks, months, talking about how it’s just talk right now, and that’s all it can be in May and July, but eventually it’s got to become not just talk, but actual substance. It’ll start on Sunday.”
The Steelers made big changes to their offense in the offseason, bringing in Wilson after his two tough seasons in Denver and trading for Fields after the Bears decided to draft a new quarterback with the first pick.
Wilson won the starting job during training camp, even though he was dealing with a calf injury. However, Wilson’s comeback attempt took a hit on Thursday when he hurt the same calf again, making his status for the first game uncertain.
The 35-year-old Wilson is hoping for a fresh start after being benched by Broncos coach Sean Payton, which led to Wilson’s eventual release.
He has welcomed the opportunity in Pittsburgh, which quickly signed him to a one-year contract as soon as free agency opened.
The Steelers chose Wilson as a team captain, showing respect for how he has adjusted to a move that seemed unlikely just two years ago when the Broncos gave him a huge contract and then paid him nearly $40 million to leave.
