The future is not now in Atlanta. At least not yet.
Despite recent struggles, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is not in danger of being benched for rookie signal-caller Michael Penix Jr., 国产外流网Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday on 国产外流网GameDay Morning.
"They do believe he will bounce back, they believe he'll be resilient," Rapoport said of Atlanta. "They want to rally around Cousins."
Entering Sunday's game against his former club in Minnesota, Cousins is in the midst of a major skid. The veteran hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in his last three starts, the first time that Kirko Chainz has gone so ice cold in his 13-year career. In that span, he's also tossed six picks, nearly matching his total from the previous nine weeks combined (7).
Cousins is the first player with 100-plus pass attempts, zero pass TDs, at least six INTs and at least one pick-six over a three-game span since Brett Favre in Weeks 14-16, 2005 with the Packers. (Favre is usually good company stat-wise, but not here.)
The Falcons QB's 15 giveaways pace the NFL, while Atlanta has slipped to .500 and into a tie atop the NFC South with Tampa Bay.
With five games left in the season, the Falcons still have multiple opportunities to run away with the division. Atlanta faces three contenders for the No. 1 pick in the draft over the final four weeks in the Raiders, Giants and Panthers.
But if Cousins continues to struggle, Penix will continue to appear like a more appetizing option under center.
The No. 8 overall selection in the 2024 draft has sat behind Cousins all season and barely seen the field, even in the preseason. Penix has made two appearances in blowout losses, completing three of five passes for 38 yards in 20 total snaps. Each of the southpaw's completions went for first downs.
Penix, 24, offers Atlanta something Cousins currently does not: a downfield threat. The veteran is throwing 43% of his passes this season between 0 and 9 yards, per Next Gen Stats, the highest percentage of his career.
But the Falcons aren't ready for a big move to the big arm, at least it appears until next season when Penix will have a year under his belt and Cousins, then 37, will be in his last season of guaranteed salary in Atlanta.
"Michael Penix has really impressed," Rapoport reported. "[The Falcons] drafted him to be the quarterback of the future. That is just not now, and they do not believe this should be a discussion."
