Kirk Cousins Is Back Under Center, And The NFC West Has To Be Watching

Alright 12s, it's May, which means the NFL regular season might feel light-years away, but trust me, the gears are already grinding. We're in that crucial early stretch, where every team is figuring out its form, checking player health, and seeing what trends are emerging. And guess who's already out there setting a serious pace for the Raiders? None other than Kirk Cousins, hitting OTAs as the first QB on the field! You better believe the entire NFC West, including our beloved Hawks, are taking notes. This ain't no casual stroll in the park, folks; it's a statement, and it's happening right now.

Cousins Is Back, And The West Is Watching

Yeah, Cousins was out there, leading the charge for the Raiders on Wednesday. Ryan McFadden from ESPN reports he was the first quarterback on the field during OTA practice, with Aidan O'Connell and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza following. Coach Klint Kubiak hasn't officially named a starter, but McFadden suggests Cousins is the solid favorite to open the season as QB1. Why? His ample NFL experience and deep familiarity with Kubiak's offense, plain and simple. But don't sleep on Mendoza, who Kubiak says has been "as advertised." He's got time to change that narrative before Week 1, and given where he was drafted, you know he's going to rise to the top of that depth chart eventually. Every team in our division, every team in the league, is making these moves, shaping their future. We gotta be ready for whatever they throw at us.

Elsewhere In The League: Gritty Fights And Big Returns

And it's not just the signal-callers making waves. Over with the Steelers, 25-year-old offensive tackle Broderick Jones is expecting to work on both sides of the line once he recovers from a neck injury. Dude missed the final seven games last season, including playoffs, and it's still unclear if he'll even be ready for training camp or Week 1, according to Adam Schefter. Pittsburgh picked up offensive tackles in two of the last three drafts, so Jones is in for a battle, especially since they declined his fifth-year option in late April. That's a high-stakes situation right there! Meanwhile, up in Buffalo, defensive tackle DeWayne Carter is finally back on the field for OTAs after missing ALL of the 2025 season with a torn Achilles. The 2024 third-round pick had 14 total tackles and one pass defensed in 11 games his rookie year. Now he's bulked up to 330 pounds and is expected to compete for meaningful reps at nose tackle. These are the gritty comebacks and position battles happening across the league, folks. Every team is scrambling to build that depth, find that edge, snag that difference-maker. So, while the rest of the league makes these early season moves and deals with injuries, for us, the 12s, it's about watching, learning, and knowing our Hawks are locked in. We're keeping an eye on every single shift, every bit of news, because come regular season, every detail matters. We're anticipating what Coach Macdonald and OC Brian Fleury are cooking up with guys like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Sam Darnold. What are you most hyped to see from our squad as we get closer to the real action? The energy is building, Seattle. We're ready for it. Always.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.