The Atlanta Falcons signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal last offseason, then stirred controversy by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
While Cousins was named the starter and got off to a fast start, a poor stretch of performances leading into Week 16 prompted the Falcons to bench him in favor of Penix Jr.
Now, with both quarterbacks returning in 2025, it appears Cousins will be collecting some hefty paychecks from the sidelines as the team moves forward with Penix.
That said, on Monday, head coach Raheem Morris revealed that neither Penix nor Cousins will suit up for the Falcons’ preseason opener against the Detroit Lions on Friday night.
“Penix won’t get out there, Kirk won’t get out there,” Morris said on Monday. “So, we’ll see [Easton] Stick, we’ll see Emory [Jones]. That’s probably the most definitive thing I can tell you right now. There will be a lot of guys playing, and there will be a couple that won’t.”
Last season, Michael Penix Jr. completed 58.1% of his passes for 775 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions across three starts and five total appearances.
Kirk Cousins, on the other hand, was coming off a torn Achilles before signing with the Falcons and struggled throughout the year. He completed 66.9% of his passes for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.
One of the more intriguing storylines heading into this season will be how the Falcons handle having Cousins on the bench—or whether they eventually decide to shop him if quarterback needs arise around the league.
