ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons are replacing quarterback Kirk Cousins with Michael Penix Jr.
“After review, we have made the decision Michael Penix will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward,” head coach Raheem Morris said in a statement Tuesday night. “This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.”
The Falcons have struggled to score points over the last month and decisions over Cousins’ role have grown over the last month or so, the Falcons said.
Coming out of Week 15, Cousins leads the league in interceptions and has only thrown one touchdown pass and the Falcons have only won one game.
“We didn’t play particularly well at the quarterback position,” Morris said Tuesday afternoon. “We didn’t play well (Monday) at that spot. I like to be open and honest about those things. It’s always going to be those questions marks. It’s always going to be those question marks when it comes to head coach, when it comes to the quarterback. And you got to be really transparent about it. We got to play better. I think that’s the thing that’s got to be put out there, that we got to play better, and that’s the thing that’s got to be addressed. This thing’s got to happen in order for us to find ways to win versus our next opponent, which is the New York Giants.”
The organization signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in March with $100 million guaranteed.
The Falcons surprised many when they drafted Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft weeks after they signed Cousins.
Penix Jr. has only played in two games this season, where he is 3-for-5 on pass attempts for 38 yards.
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