From a spectator’s perspective, Cousins ​​appeared mostly immobile on Sunday, unable to escape the pocket and at times unable to fully push off his standing leg. He completed 16 of 26 passes for 155 yards (second fewest in a season opener of his career), one touchdown and two interceptions for a passer rating of 59.0.

Morris said some of Cousins’ problems could be attributed to “some rust” from the long absence.

The Falcons’ game plan seemed to disprove Morris’ claim that Cousins ​​was healthy. Atlanta pressured the quarterback once (a 10-yard run by Bijan Robinson). Cousins ​​averaged just 3.1 scramble yards per dropback, moving a full yard less than in any other game he’s played in the past nine seasons, according to Next Gen Stats. He made 26 of 50 plays from the pistol. Most astonishingly, the Falcons didn’t run a single play-action pass, a classic of the Sean McVay system from which Atlanta’s new OC Zac Robinson came.

“It all depends on the game situation, who you’re playing,” Morris said when asked if Cousins’ health affected plays. “When you go out there and put those guys in what we want to do and how we want to play and try to put those guys in good positions to block them, the aliens that the Pittsburgh Steelers have, you have to try to figure those things out.”

The Steelers defense, including “Alien” TJ Watt, certainly deserves credit for messing up Cousins ​​and the Falcons offense. But there were more problems than just a good defense.

“I thought we played winning football in two phases of the game, but we didn’t play winning football in the offensive phase,” Morris said.

In Atlanta, the hope is that Cousins ​​will be more mobile going forward after shaking off the rust. However, with first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings, the question of whether Cousins ​​and the offense continue to struggle will inevitably turn to whether Morris gives the rookie a chance and benches his highly paid QB.