ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons have announced that rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will take over the starting role as they aim for their first playoff appearance since 2017, replacing veteran Kirk Cousins. Head Coach Raheem Morris confirmed this decision in a statement made on Tuesday evening.
“Upon review, we have determined that Michael Penix Jr. will be the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback going forward,” Morris stated. “This decision is purely a football choice, and our primary focus is on preparing for our game against the New York Giants this Sunday.”
The Falcons, who currently hold a 7-7 record, recently snapped a four-game losing streak with a narrow 15-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night. In that game, Cousins threw for just 112 yards with one touchdown—his first in five games—and also recorded an interception. Over the last five games, the 36-year-old signal-caller has thrown nine interceptions, leading the league with a total of 16 this season.
Cousins joined the Falcons in the offseason on a significant four-year deal worth $180 million, including $100 million guaranteed, before they decided to select Penix with the eighth overall pick in the NFL Draft. In the win against the Raiders, Cousins found Drake London for a 30-yard touchdown in the first quarter but struggled otherwise. “It’s not where I want to be,” he remarked regarding his performance, emphasizing the need for improvement as the season comes to a close.
The head coach made the quarterback decision roughly three hours after expressing uncertainty about the starter for the upcoming week during a press conference. “We discussed it last night,” Morris explained. “It’s no secret; we haven’t performed well enough at the quarterback position, and it’s essential to find ways to do better. We must do what’s necessary to win against the Giants.”
This quarterback change occurs with the Falcons still in contention for the NFC South title. They trail division-leading Tampa Bay by only one game, although they currently hold the tiebreaker over the Buccaneers.
Penix has had limited playtime, participating in just two games where he completed 3 of 5 passes for 38 yards. He was a standout in college, finishing as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2023, throwing for 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while playing for Washington.
Cousins had a promising start to the season, leading the Falcons to a 6-3 record and securing first place in the division. With a completion rate of 66.9%, he has matched his career average over 13 seasons. However, his performance has been marred by a concerning tally of 18 touchdown passes against 16 interceptions.
Morris noted that it seems Cousins’ recent performances have impacted his confidence. “I’m not trying to sugarcoat this for him,” he said. “He’s facing significant stress, which affects his confidence and swagger that were apparent earlier this season.”
The coach previously indicated that the intention for Cousins was to start the season while Penix was groomed to take over when appropriate. Although initially hesitant to deviate from that plan, Morris did recognize earlier in the day that starting Penix posed no disadvantages.
Morris expressed admiration for how Penix has conducted himself during his time as a backup. “You could never argue against handing the reins to someone you’ve invested significantly in and who has shown nothing but professionalism since arriving here,” he stated.
Morris concluded by suggesting he had been “smart and cautious” in his approach to keeping Cousins in the game despite his recent difficulties.