The Atlanta Falcons are back on the football field, taking part in the first day of their organized team activities on Tuesday.
Two key faces were not there.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins and tight end Kyle Pitts both were absent.
They weren’t the only two Falcons missing, but they were the two most notable. Among the others missing, according to beat reporter Terrin Waack, were WR Ray-Ray McCloud, LB Troy Andersen, LB Bralen Trice, OT Kaleb McGary and DL Morgan Fox.
Pitts and Cousins are two names that have been thrown around trade rumors all offseason.
Cousins, 36, has gone in a year’s time from clear-cut starter to clear-cut backup. Michael Penix Jr. usurped the quarterback job from Cousins a season ago after the veteran led the NFL with 16 interceptions.
If the Falcons can’t trade Cousins, he’ll likely show up eventually to be the highest-paid backup in football.
MORE: James Cook makes his holdout decision
Pitts has never built on his promising rookie season and is now into the final year of his rookie contract. If the Falcons wanted to recoup any value for him, they’d be wise to trade him now.
It’s not clear whether Pitts actually wants out of town, but it’d be a way for the Falcons to reset the timeline on a young player, given that Pitts doesn’t seem likely to still be in Atlanta when Penix reaches his peak.
Maybe both will show up on day two, but something about their absences feels larger than just a delayed flight or something.
MORE NFL NEWS:
Read the full article here