Falcons Bench Kirk Cousins for Rookie Michael Penix Jr
In a surprising move, the Falcons have benched Kirk Cousins, opting for rookie Michael Penix Jr as their starting quarterback
Atlanta, Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr, NFL, Raheem Morris, New York Giants
Atlanta: The Kirk Cousins era in Atlanta has come to an end. Can you believe it? It lasted just fourteen games. After a string of poor performances, the Falcons decided to bench him for rookie Michael Penix Jr.
The team made the announcement on Tuesday night. Coach Raheem Morris said, “After review, we have made the decision Michael Penix will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward.” He emphasized that this was purely a football decision as they gear up for the game against the New York Giants.
Honestly, it’s not a huge shock. Morris hinted at this after their close win over the Raiders. But still, it’s a big deal. The Falcons had given Cousins a whopping $100 million contract, and just weeks later, they picked Penix as the eighth overall draft choice.
Clearly, they felt it was time for a change. Cousins has struggled lately, throwing just one touchdown and a staggering nine interceptions in his last five games. His passer rating was below 80 each time.
Now, it’s Penix’s turn to step up. He was drafted to be the future of the team. With only three games left and a playoff spot to fight for, the future is now.