Why are Kirk Cousins and Damar Hamlin not playing today? Know what happened to them

Bills’ Damar Hamlin missed MNF with a serious pectoral injury, now on IR. Falcons’ Kirk Cousins remained QB2 behind rookie Michael Penix Jr.

Updated on: Oct 14, 2025 5:42 AM IST

Share via

Copy link

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin and Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins were two notable absences as the two teams clashed on Monday Night Football. Cousins, on a $180 million four-year deal with the Falcons since 2024, has been relegated to the QB2 spot by the Falcons since the emergence of Michael Phenix Jr.

Damar Hamlin (L) and Kirk Cousins (R). (AP)

Meanwhile, Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills is recovering from a pectoral injury he picked up in practice ahead of the Week 6 clash against the Falcons. His injury is serious, and he has been placed on the team's injured reserve. Last week, coach Sean McDermott admitted to reporters that Hamlin may not back to the squad this season.

What Happened To Kirk Cousins?

Kirk Cousins has been demoted to the Falcons QB starting order since the last three games of the 2024 season. Starting in the 2025 preseason, he has remained in the QB2 spot, serving as a backup to Michael Phenix Jr. Cousins, still very much a Falcons player, is not injured and in on the Falcons' active roster for the Bills game.

Cousins' demotion came after a lackluster 2024 season. He played 14 games for the Falcons in the 2025 season, passing for 303 yards with 18 touchdowns. The dipping numbers earned him a QB rating of just 47.0. It eventually sparked Raheem Morris' decision to bench the star QB even before the 2024 season had ended.

Also read: Brian Thomas Jr.’s drops may force the Jaguars to restart their decades-long search for a No. 1 WR

What Happened To Damar Hamlin?

Damar Hamlin, the Bills safety who got massive media coverage nationally after a tragic injury he suffered in 2022, suffered a pectoral injury on Thursday, the team confirmed this week. He is expected to stay out of action for the Bills for most of this season.

Unless his recovery is dramatically sped up, he is not expected to return to the active roster anytime soon. "Damar is up in the air at this point," Coach Sean McDermott told reporters about his status.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

Catch all the latest Sports News, scores, and highlights in one place. Stay updated with real-time coverage of your favorite games and athletes along with Lionel Messi latest updates.