‘Pure ability’ – NFL insider ranked Michael Penix Jr. above all rookie QBs as Atlanta Falcons plot Kirk Cousins’ fate
Kirk Cousins’ future with the Atlanta Falcons is looking less secure by the day. The former Minnesota Viking arrived over the offseason on a four-year, $180million contract with $100million in guarantees. GettyCousins is fighting to prove he can still cut it at QB[/caption] He was brought in to end years of sub-par play under center and snap a six-year playoff drought. But just over a month later, his status was already under threat as the Falcons controversially took Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick. Cousins has been looking over his shoulder ever since and as the 36-year-old endures a historically bad run, the rookie is coming in hot. The passer has no touchdowns and four interceptions across his last four games – the worst run since Ben Roethlisberger went 0-9 over 18 years ago, per the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Losing all four of those games, Atlanta has slid to 6-7 to leave a postseason appearance in huge doubt. Cousins’ passer rating has slipped below 80 in seven of 13 outings this season. His numbers – 3,396 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions – are not the upgrade his employers were expecting. Penix Jr. is almost guaranteed to take over at some point – and many fans believe he should have been handed the keys already. The decision rests with head coach Raheem Morris. “When it’s time,” he said on when Penix Jr. will take over ahead of the Monday Night Football showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders. It is a question Morris will be hearing every week until Cousins is benched, cut or traded. GettyAtlanta fans want to see Penix Jr. named starter[/caption] GettyThe rookie bounced back from injuries to star with the Huskies[/caption] “When you lead an organization, you have to have trust and belief in the people that got you to where you were,” he added. “Kirk came here, and he got us to a point we are in playoff contention. “You have to believe and have to have the resolve to stick and stay steady-handed by the guy you believe in. “I just feel like it’s our job and my job to back him at the highest level of certainty to get him to get out there and play better.” Penix Jr. has appeared in two games this season – both blowout losses. He went 3-for-5 passing for 38 yards. The Falcons believe they have a franchise quarterback on their hands and Morris is determined not to make a costly mistake. “You can look at different organizations that’s pulled the trigger and put guys out there too early and it’s gone terrible. I don’t want to be that guy,” he explained. “I told you right from the beginning, he’s our future. “And for our future to go out there and be preparing like he’s preparing, to be the solid human he’s been throughout the whole process and to have the respect, the confidence, the wherewithal to support Kirk and all this stuff too, it’s a great learning lesson for him as well.” Penix Jr.’s age and injury history caused him to slide in the draft. But NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah thinks he could be the best quarterback in the class of ’24 despite top picks Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels getting the hype. “If you told me that in the rookie season Michael Penix would be as good as anybody in this draft class, just off pure ability and his ability to throw the football, I wouldn’t be shocked by that because he can really, really deliver the ball,” he exclusively told talkSPORT in April. Penix dealt with ACL and shoulder injuries early in his college career, but emerged as one of the best QBs in the sport last season and guided Washington to a 14-1 record. His six-year college stay counted against him with some teams but the Falcons had seen enough to not let him slide past them. “I think with him it’s the durability more so than anything else,” Jeremiah aded. “He’s been able to stay healthy the last few years, which is great to see. “But you’ve got a situation where he’s had a couple shoulder injuries, he’s had a couple knee injuries, he’s a little bit older. You kind of factor all those things into his evaluation, which to me is why he slides in behind some of those guys. “I think he’s really talented. He’s got a big arm, a live arm.” talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio, join us every week for commentary and subscribe to our dedicated NFL YouTube channel for news, views and interviews from across the league Stay Up To Date With The NFL talkSPORT.com is covering more NFL than ever before this season, bringing you breaking news, expert insight and exclusive interviews. To receive all the best of our NFL content, download the talkSPORT app and enable notifications. It’s super simple.
Kirk Cousins’ future with the Atlanta Falcons is looking less secure by the day.
The former Minnesota Viking arrived over the offseason on a four-year, $180million contract with $100million in guarantees.
He was brought in to end years of sub-par play under center and snap a six-year playoff drought.
But just over a month later, his status was already under threat as the Falcons controversially took Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick.
Cousins has been looking over his shoulder ever since and as the 36-year-old endures a historically bad run, the rookie is coming in hot.
The passer has no touchdowns and four interceptions across his last four games – the worst run since Ben Roethlisberger went 0-9 over 18 years ago, per the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Losing all four of those games, Atlanta has slid to 6-7 to leave a postseason appearance in huge doubt.
Cousins’ passer rating has slipped below 80 in seven of 13 outings this season. His numbers – 3,396 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions – are not the upgrade his employers were expecting.
Penix Jr. is almost guaranteed to take over at some point – and many fans believe he should have been handed the keys already.
The decision rests with head coach Raheem Morris.
“When it’s time,” he said on when Penix Jr. will take over ahead of the Monday Night Football showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders.
It is a question Morris will be hearing every week until Cousins is benched, cut or traded.
“When you lead an organization, you have to have trust and belief in the people that got you to where you were,” he added. “Kirk came here, and he got us to a point we are in playoff contention.
“You have to believe and have to have the resolve to stick and stay steady-handed by the guy you believe in.
“I just feel like it’s our job and my job to back him at the highest level of certainty to get him to get out there and play better.”
Penix Jr. has appeared in two games this season – both blowout losses. He went 3-for-5 passing for 38 yards.
The Falcons believe they have a franchise quarterback on their hands and Morris is determined not to make a costly mistake.
“You can look at different organizations that’s pulled the trigger and put guys out there too early and it’s gone terrible. I don’t want to be that guy,” he explained.
“I told you right from the beginning, he’s our future.
“And for our future to go out there and be preparing like he’s preparing, to be the solid human he’s been throughout the whole process and to have the respect, the confidence, the wherewithal to support Kirk and all this stuff too, it’s a great learning lesson for him as well.”
Penix Jr.’s age and injury history caused him to slide in the draft.
But NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah thinks he could be the best quarterback in the class of ’24 despite top picks Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels getting the hype.
“If you told me that in the rookie season Michael Penix would be as good as anybody in this draft class, just off pure ability and his ability to throw the football, I wouldn’t be shocked by that because he can really, really deliver the ball,” he exclusively told talkSPORT in April.
Penix dealt with ACL and shoulder injuries early in his college career, but emerged as one of the best QBs in the sport last season and guided Washington to a 14-1 record.
His six-year college stay counted against him with some teams but the Falcons had seen enough to not let him slide past them.
“I think with him it’s the durability more so than anything else,” Jeremiah aded. “He’s been able to stay healthy the last few years, which is great to see.
“But you’ve got a situation where he’s had a couple shoulder injuries, he’s had a couple knee injuries, he’s a little bit older. You kind of factor all those things into his evaluation, which to me is why he slides in behind some of those guys.
“I think he’s really talented. He’s got a big arm, a live arm.”
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