Michael Penix Jr. Stays Ready as Kirk Cousins Faces Career-Worst Stretch
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons are in a tough spot, and rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. knows it. But if you think the young QB is sitting around waiting for Kirk Cousins to falter further, think again. Penix is staying ready, but he’s also standing firmly behind his veteran teammate, even as Cousins endures what might be the roughest patch of his 13-year NFL career.
“He’s a vet,” Penix said of Cousins. “He’s been in a lot of different situations, so I have no doubt that he’s going to bounce back from this and he’s going to be great this weekend and for the rest of the season.”
That’s a bold statement, considering the numbers. Cousins has thrown six interceptions over the past three games and hasn’t managed a single touchdown pass in that span. The Falcons, who once held a commanding lead in the NFC South, have dropped three straight games, including a 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Now, they’re in a statistical tie atop the division with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team they’ve already swept this season.
Four Picks and a Lot of Questions
Sunday’s game was particularly brutal for Cousins, who threw four interceptions, including a game-sealing pick by Derwin James Jr. late in the fourth quarter. It’s the kind of performance that has fans and analysts alike calling for a change under center. And that’s where Penix’s name comes in.
The Falcons drafted Penix with the No. 8 pick in April, pegging the former University of Washington standout as their quarterback of the future. But for now, the coaching staff is sticking with Cousins. Head coach Raheem Morris made that crystal clear after Sunday’s loss.
“That’s not going to be the issue around here,” Morris said when asked about a potential quarterback controversy. “That guy has carried us. That guy has got us to the point where we are 6-6 and in first place in the division. We’ve got everything in front of us despite what happened today. It’s up to us to bounce back and find a way to win football games. There isn’t a better man than [Cousins] to go do that for us.”
Penix’s Perspective
For his part, Penix isn’t letting the noise get to him. He’s only seen action in two games this season, both in garbage time, completing 3-of-5 passes for 38 yards. But he’s staying focused and ready for whatever comes next.
“I felt like I’ve been put in this position for a reason,” Penix said. “It’s all God’s plan. It’s all in his hands. I just got to come out here and work each and every day. Kirk is a great quarterback. He showed it so many times this season. Everybody’s not going to be perfect. That’s just what it is. I haven’t played perfect all my life.”
Still, Penix knows the NFL is unpredictable, and he’s preparing for the possibility that his number could be called.
- “I have to be [ready], because you never know when the opportunity [comes],” Penix said. “So, I always stay ready, but at the end of the day, like I said, it’s not up to me. I just got to continue to be ready, continue to stay ready for that moment whenever that is.”
A Bond Between Quarterbacks
Despite the pressure and the chatter, there’s no bad blood between Cousins and Penix. In fact, the two quarterbacks have developed a strong relationship. They even live on the same street in suburban Atlanta and sometimes carpool to team flights for road games.
“He takes accountability for everything in meetings, he’ll always take accountability,” Penix said of Cousins. “He never points a finger. He’s just a first-class guy in everything that he does, and that’s what I appreciate a lot about him. … You don’t see him act out of character over something. He’s been in so many different positions, like I said, throughout his career in football that at the end of the day he knows that wasn’t him and he knows that he can be better and he’s going to be better. And that’s what this whole team believes in.”
What’s Next for the Falcons?
With a 6-6 record and a division title still within reach, the Falcons have no time to dwell on the past. Cousins will need to shake off his recent struggles and lead the team back to winning ways. Meanwhile, Penix will keep grinding, ready to step in if the moment comes.
For now, the Falcons’ fate rests in Cousins’ hands. But if there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that Michael Penix Jr. is waiting in the wings, prepared to seize his opportunity whenever it arrives.
Originally Written by: Michael Rothstein
