Falcons bench QB Kirk Cousins for rookie Michael Penix Jr. amid struggles

The Atlanta Falcons are making the transfer they clearly didn’t need to make – changing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins with rookie Michael Penix Jr. beginning instantly.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris introduced the choice Tuesday evening in a press release launched by the workforce.

“After evaluate we’ve made the choice Michael Penix Jr. would be the Atlanta Falcons beginning quarterback transferring ahead,” the assertion learn. “This was a soccer determination and we’re totally targeted on getting ready the workforce for Sunday’s recreation towards the New York Giants.”

That assertion got here lower than 4 hours after Morris had hinted on the transfer throughout a repeatedly scheduled information convention the day after the Falcons improved to 7-7 by beating the Raiders 15-9 in Las Vegas.

“We didn’t play notably effectively on the quarterback place,” Morris mentioned. “That’s the factor that’s acquired to be addressed.”

Penix was drafted eighth by the Falcons in April. It was a shock transfer on the time contemplating the group had signed Cousins to a four-year free-agency deal the earlier month that assured the 13-year veteran $90 million in wage the primary two seasons and had a complete potential value of $180 million.

The plan on the time was to sit down Penix behind Cousins for no less than a 12 months, and Morris had been holding out hope as not too long ago as final week that he might follow that plan. The top coach, who was employed in January, repeatedly referred to Penix as “the long run” and mentioned the Falcons had been dedicated to their “plan” on the place.

“You may take a look at organizations which have put younger guys on the market too early, and it’s gone horrible and I don’t need to be that man,” Morris mentioned final week. “I do know the plan that I’ve and what I need to do for that younger man.”

Nonetheless, Cousins’ final 5 video games satisfied the Falcons they might not keep on with the plan. He threw 9 interceptions and one landing in that span and ranked thirty third within the league in anticipated factors added per dropback (minus-.14). When the quarterback was advised Monday evening that Morris mentioned he wanted to play higher, Cousins replied, “It’s stating the apparent.”

“I don’t suppose that’s a thriller,” he mentioned after passing for 112 yards. “Each week you undergo your course of and plan to go on the market and play the easiest you’ll be able to. This week can be no totally different.”

Morris mentioned Tuesday that he didn’t discover any bodily points with Cousins that “bounce off the web page.” The 36-year-old returned this season from a ruptured Achilles tendon that ended his 2023 season after eight video games.

“A few of it’s pure progress of abrasion by means of a soccer season,” Morris mentioned of Cousins’ look within the pocket.

The begin to Cousins’ season made it seem like Atlanta’s long-term plan was going to work. He was fourth within the league in passing yards (2,328) and touchdowns (17) and seventh in EPA per dropback (.15) by means of Week 9, and the Falcons raced to a two-game lead within the NFC South.

From there, although, Atlanta misplaced 4 straight and fell behind Tampa Bay (8-6) within the division as Cousins floundered. In accordance with The Athletic’s projections, the Falcons now have a 23 p.c probability to win the division and a 31 p.c probability to make the playoffs.

“Kirk acquired us into some extent of rivalry,” Morris mentioned final week. “It’s a must to have the resolve to remain steady-handed with a man you consider in. I don’t need to be like some organizations that make harsh choices in your individuals after they make their errors. It’s our job and my job to again him on the highest stage of certainty to get him to get on the market and play higher. He’s going to return out of this factor, and he’s going to go on a run right here.”

He didn’t, although, and now the Falcons are turning to Penix, the previous College of Washington quarterback who led the Huskies to the nationwide title recreation final season and twice was a Heisman Trophy finalist. How the Falcons deal with Cousins from right here is an open query. It could price them $65 million in useless cash in the event that they launched him after this season, based on Over the Cap. In the event that they maintain on to him by means of the 2025 season both in a return to the beginning position or as a backup, they might lower him after that season and incur solely a $25 million useless cap hit.

The Falcons might additionally try to commerce Cousins this offseason. The Raiders, Titans and Giants are anticipated to draft a quarterback however may also be taken with bringing in a veteran to assist the transition. The Saints, Panthers, and Jets might additionally make adjustments.

Cousins’ monitor file of success will give him some worth on the commerce market regardless of this season, by which he stands seventeenth in EPA per dropback (minus-.05). Nonetheless, his time ends in Atlanta, this isn’t how anybody envisioned it.