QB Cousins replaces struggling Penix for Falcons

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It took conscionable 3 weeks for Atlanta Falcons fans to get different glimpse of Kirk Cousins successful regular-season action.

The seasoned backmost replaced the struggling Michael Penix Jr. with 10:44 near successful a crippled wherever the Falcons were down 27-0 to their NFC South part rivals. Cousins wasn't capable to determination the shot overmuch successful his archetypal series, with Atlanta turning the shot implicit connected downs.

Penix was 18-of-36 for 172 yards and 2 interceptions, including his archetypal vocation pick-six.

Cousins was the Falcons' starting backmost past play aft signing a declaration worthy $100 cardinal guaranteed successful the 2024 offseason. The Falcons past selected Penix with the No. 8 wide prime successful the draft.

Last season, Cousins led the Falcons to a 6-3 commencement earlier a disastrous agelong that started astir midseason. Cousins was benched successful Week 16, pursuing a drawstring of 5 games with 9 interceptions and conscionable 1 touchdown pass. Penix was named the starter moving guardant and performed good successful the team's last 3 games, contempt the Falcons going 1-2 and missing the playoffs.

Many expected Cousins to beryllium released oregon traded this past offseason, but the Falcons made it wide that they were comfy keeping him astir arsenic a backup. A precise costly backup, astatine that. Cousins volition marque a guaranteed $27.5 cardinal this season.