ATLANTA — After weeks of subpar play from first-year Atlanta Falcons quarterback and multi-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins, the team is turning to rookie first-round pick Michael Penix Jr.
The team announced the news in a press release on Tuesday night, with Raheem Morris simply stating: “After review we have made the decision Michael Penix Jr. will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward. This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.”
The move comes as the aging 36-year-old Cousins leads the league in interceptions thrown and fumbles, throwing 18 picks and having 13 fumbles to date. To say it's been a massive disappointment so far in Cousins' first year would be an understatement, considering Atlanta signed him to a 4-year, $180 million deal, with $100 million guaranteed, in the offseason.
Penix Jr. was one of the highest-rated quarterbacks in the 2024 draft class and was a surprise pick by the Falcons at No. 8 in the first round of the NFL Draft back in April. But in offseason camp, Penix Jr. turned heads with his play and has been at the forefront of conversation across the league with the dwindling play of Cousins.
In college, Penix Jr. threw for 13,741 yards, 96 touchdowns and 34 interceptions, including leading college football with 4,903 passing yards at Washington in 2023.
The left-handed gunslinger will now step in and have massive expectations on his shoulders, with the Falcons just a game out of a playoff spot in the NFC South behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Penix Jr. talked about the relationship with Cousins before the season started: “We’re on the same team. It’s not hard to approach that relationship. We’ve got the same goals. That’s to win football games. … It’s definitely going to be great. I’m super blessed to be able to be right here in this position with a veteran in front of me, just learning from him and going about my business each and every day and just trying to find ways to improve and get to where he is, multiple years in the league.”
