ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons are turning to rookie Michael Penix Jr. as their beginning quarterback and benching veteran Kirk Cousins as they struggle for his or her first playoff berth since 2017.
Coach Raheem Morris introduced the choice in a press release Tuesday night time.
“After review we have made the decision Michael Penix Jr. will be the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback moving forward,” Morris stated. “This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.”
The Falcons (7-7) ended a four-game shedding streak with Monday night time’s ugly 15-9 win at Las Vegas. Cousins handed for 112 yards with one landing — his first TD go in 5 video games — and one interception. The 36-year-old has thrown 9 picks over the previous 5 video games and leads the NFL with 16 interceptions.
Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract within the offseason with $100 million assured earlier than deciding on Penix No. 8 general within the NFL draft.
Cousins ended his landing drought with a 30-yard scoring go to Drake London within the first quarter however had few different highlights in opposition to the woeful Raiders.
“It’s not where I want to be,” he stated of his efficiency. “There’s a lot of room for improvement and we’d like to finish a lot stronger here these last three weeks.”
The Falcons made the change about three hours after Morris instructed reporters he wasn’t able to decide on this week’s starter.
“We talked about it last night,” Morris stated. “You know, there’s no secret. We didn’t play well enough at the quarterback position, and we’ve got to find ways to play better. So, all those things over the course of the week and we’ve got to do whatever is best to win versus the Giants.”
The quarterback transfer comes with the Falcons nonetheless contending for the NFC South title. Atlanta is one recreation behind division-leading Tampa Bay, however the Falcons maintain the tiebreaker benefit.
Penix has appeared in solely two video games, finishing 3 of 5 passes for 38 yards. He was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2023, when he handed for 4,903 yards with 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for Washington.
Cousins had a robust begin to the season, main the Falcons to a 6-3 begin and first place within the division. He has accomplished 66.9% of his passes, precisely matching his commonplace for his 13-year profession. He has handed for 3,508 yards however has an unhealthy ratio of 18 landing passes to 16 interceptions.
Morris acknowledged it appeared Cousins’ confidence has been shaken by his current struggles.
“I’m not trying to sugarcoat this thing for him,” Morris stated. “He’s not trying to sugarcoat it for himself. … When you go through the stress that we’re going through right now, you’re not going to have that same confidence and the same swagger that you had in the first, two months or three months, whatever it was, of the season.”
Morris has constantly stated the plan was for Cousins to deal with the job this season whereas Penix ready to take over sooner or later sooner or later. Morris was reluctant to veer from than plan earlier than Tuesday night time, although he stated earlier within the day he noticed no draw back if he selected to begin Penix.
The primary-year coach has praised the best way Penix has dealt with the backup position.
“You could never say there’s a downside to turn it over to somebody that you put a lot of investment into, somebody that you brought in here, somebody you’ve done some things with, somebody that’s done nothing but the right thing since they’ve been here,” Morris stated.
Morris added he was “just being really smart and cautious in how we go about our business” in sticking with Cousins via his current struggles.