It was only in the spring that the Falcons gave veteran Kirk Cousins a $180 million mega-contract – now his time with Atlanta could already be over.
As the franchise announces, rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will take over as starting quarterback this week against the New York Giants. A sporting decision, as they say. The Falcons want to attack with a breath of fresh air in the race for the playoffs.
With a record of 7-7, the team from Georgia is still in the race for one of the four remaining playoff tickets. From the NFC, only the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings are currently included.
Cousins is chasing his form
Veteran Cousins has been lagging behind his form in recent weeks.
The veteran has only thrown 18 touchdowns this season, compared to no fewer than 16 interceptions – the most in a season in his career. At 88.6, his QB rating is also as bad as it was ten years ago at Washington.
Even last weekend’s 15-9 win against the Las Vegas Raiders couldn’t save him from a place on the bench. Previously, there were four straight losses in which Cousins did not score a single TD.
Falcons have been the talk of the offseason
The Falcons caused a lot of discussion in the offseason with their quarterback decisions in the spring.
The franchise gave Cousins, who was suffering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, a high four-year contract worth $180 million, but a short time later in the NFL draft they took Michael Penix Jr., a rookie quarterback, with the eighth pick.
While the high-paying contract for Cousins, who came from the Minnesota Vikings, caused heads to shake, those in charge offended the 36-year-old with the Penix pick.
Now Cousins’ time with the Falcons could already be over. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, “only” $27.5 million is fully guaranteed in Cousins’ contract next season – a tradeable contract if Rapoport has his way.
Coach Morris has named Michael Penix Jr. the starting quarterback moving forward
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 18, 2024
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