Falcons head coach Raheem Morris last week expressed caution about rushing rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., but with Atlanta in contention for a playoff spot, Morris has had a change of heart. Penix will now replace struggling starter Kirk Cousins.
“After careful review, we have decided that Michael Penix will be the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback going forward,” Morris stated. “This decision was purely based on football considerations, and our focus is entirely on preparing the team for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.”
Despite a shaky performance by quarterback Cousins, Atlanta remains a contender in the weak NFC South, prompting the Falcons to shift towards a run-first strategy.
Following an unimpressive 15-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night, the Falcons boast a 7-7 record, trailing Tampa Bay by just one game in the division standings.
[Related: Check out the latest playoff standings]
With the tiebreaker advantage over the Buccaneers, Morris declared after the game, “That’s exactly where we want to be.”
Falcons beat Raiders 15-9, Should Atlanta bench Kirk Cousins? | Breakfast Ball
Despite the win, Cousins’ performance was lackluster, with only 112 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Reflecting on his game, Cousins remarked, “This is not where I want to be.”
Cousins had entered the game with a drought of touchdown passes and eight interceptions in his previous four games. While he ended the drought with a 30-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, he couldn’t maintain the momentum and added his league-leading 16th interception.
With a 2-12 record, the Raiders are tied for the league’s worst record with the New York Giants, who bring a nine-game losing streak to Atlanta this Sunday. Following this matchup, the Falcons face a tough game against Washington (9-5) before concluding their regular season against Carolina (3-11) at home.
Penix has only appeared in two games and did not play against Las Vegas.
Morris emphasized last week that sticking with Cousins “is not a lack of belief” in Penix. “However, he is a rookie, and we have a plan in place since the beginning on how to utilize and integrate our rookie when the time is right.”
Morris also pointed out that other coaches have prematurely put players out on the field, resulting in disastrous outcomes. He expressed his desire not to be one of those coaches.
At 36, Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract in the offseason before Penix was selected as the No. 8 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Starting his college career in 2018 at Indiana, the 24-year-old Penix excelled until 2021. Later, he transferred to Washington and compiled consecutive 4,000-yard seasons. In 2023, he threw for a remarkable 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns, finishing as the Heisman Trophy runner-up, and leading the Huskies to the national championship game where they fell to the Michigan Wolverines.
Morris reiterated that the Falcons have always been certain that Penix is their future starting quarterback.
This week, he has decided that the future starts now.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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