The Atlanta Falcons are making a change at quarterback.
The Falcons, who’re 7-7 and nonetheless in postseason competition, introduced Tuesday that they’re benching veteran Kirk Cousins and inserting rookie first-round decide Michael Penix Jr. because the starter in Week 16. The 36-year-old Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million take care of $100 million assured within the offseason, has thrown 9 interceptions and just one landing over the past 5 video games and leads the NFL with 16 interceptions.
“After evaluate we’ve got made the choice Michael Penix would be the Atlanta Falcons beginning quarterback shifting ahead,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris mentioned in a assertion. “This was a soccer choice and we’re absolutely targeted on making ready the staff for Sunday’s recreation towards the New York Giants.”
The Falcons had been hoping they discovered their starter for the current earlier than turning issues over to Penix sooner or later, however Cousins was benched after solely 14 begins.
Cousins and the Falcons have been struggling offensively. In a 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night time, Cousins accomplished 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards, one landing and one interception because the Falcons recorded simply 261 yards of complete offense.
After the sport, Morris was blunt about Cousins’ play.
“He’s acquired to play higher. We need to discover a approach to get him to play higher. We need to play higher on the quarterback place,” Morris mentioned Monday night time.
Cousins has thrown for 3,508 yards with 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions to this point this season. Cousins’ 9 interceptions, 0.1 TD-INT ratio and 63.8 passer ranking all rank within the backside three amongst 32 certified passers over the past 5 video games.
Penix, chosen No. 8 total out of Washington within the 2024 NFL draft, will make his first profession begin on Sunday towards the Giants.
During the draft, the Falcons made headlines with the shocking option to draft a quarterback that prime within the first spherical after giving Cousins his contract. The Falcons defended the transfer, saying it made them really feel stable about their quarterbacks for the “subsequent 5 years minimal.” At the time, they mentioned they felt assured in Cousins and definitely had a backup plan if plan A did not work out. While the staff is probably going disenchanted Cousins wasn’t the star they hoped he can be, they no less than had a stable backup to lean on when issues acquired dangerous and issues acquired dangerous sooner than anticipated.
Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles harm final season as a member of the Minnesota Vikings and mentioned earlier this yr that he feels good. Whether he’s nonetheless feeling the impression of the harm, the staff is not the proper match or it is his age, Cousins has appeared motionless and has made poor choices in an Atlanta uniform.
After the Giants recreation, the Falcons will play the Washington Commanders on the highway earlier than internet hosting the Carolina Panthers for the season finale. With Penix on the helm, the Falcons might have a greater likelihood of extending their season.
Penix has but to begin a recreation and solely made temporary appearances in two matchups, going 3-of-8 for 38 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions with one sack.
Moving on from a participant with that degree of contract is definitely not a straightforward choice. Not solely do the Falcons have the rest of the season and their postseason aspirations to consider, however their plans going ahead should be thought-about as Cousins is taking on some huge cash shifting ahead. If the Falcons minimize Cousins forward of the beginning of the league yr, they’d have $65 million in useless cash. If they commerce him, the $27.5 million base wage assure would go to the staff buying him and the Falcons can be chargeable for the $37.5 million of proration, per ESPN.
