Kirk Cousins’ tenure as the Atlanta Falcons’ franchise quarterback has hit rock bottom. Head coach Raheem Morris benched the $180 million signal-caller in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr., the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Falcons, sitting at 7-7, are clinging to playoff hopes, and Cousins’ decline is a major factor in their dwindling fortunes.
Jeff Saturday Compares Kirk Cousins’ Fortunes to a ‘Roman Candle’
Former NFL center Jeff Saturday pulled no punches on ESPN’s “Get Up,” calling Cousins’ fall “unprecedented” and describing him as “dejected” and lacking confidence. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Saturday said. “I’ve played 14 years. I’ve watched football my entire life. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player fall off a cliff… the first nine games to what he’s done in these past five? Honestly. I’ve never seen it tank this bad.”
Saturday, who played center for the legendary Peyton Manning, believes that the Atlanta quarterback is struggling to find his footing in a season that’s gone from bad to worse. “He looks confused. He looks like he has no confidence in anything. I mean, it’s like the last shot out of a Roman candle,” Saturday added.
Stats paint a grim picture for the veteran QB, who’s just recorded one touchdown against nine interceptions in his last five games. “I’ve never seen Kirk Cousins look this way. I think it left Raheem Morris no other option,” Saturday concluded.
"This move could save their season."
—@ByKimberleyA on the Falcons benching Kirk Cousins for rookie Michael Penix Jr. pic.twitter.com/sLdR4lVsdq
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) December 18, 2024
Morris and Co. posted a 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15, where Cousins completed 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Morris, who’s backed his QB1 all season long, said after the Raiders game, “We have to play better at the quarterback position. We’ll review the tape, talk to the coordinators, and see what adjustments need to be made.”
While Morris issued a warning to Cousins, the quarterback was benched by the Falcons regardless. Explaining how the front office was involved in this “football decision,” Morris said, “Any time you take a step down, a demotion … it’s not gonna be met with great appreciation. But Kirk is a professional, he’s a pro, he’s a man. He handled it with class.”
Raheem Morris on Cousins: Any time you take a step down, a demotion … it's not gonna be met with great appreciation. But Kirk is a professional, he's a pro, he's a man. He handled it with class. #Falcons
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) December 18, 2024
Cousins, who agreed with Morris’ comments yesterday about needing better play at the QB position, said today on the news of his benching: “It’s pro football. There’s a standard I have for myself and the team has for me, and unfortunately I wasn’t playing up to that standard consistently enough.”
Cousins: It's pro football. There's a standard I have for myself and the team has for me and unfortunately I wasn't playing up to that standard consistently enough. #falcons
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) December 18, 2024
Penix, the former Washington Huskies quarterback and 2023 Heisman finalist, will be taking over the signal-calling duties for Morris’ team. The 24-year-old was one of the best players in college football last year, leading Washington to the final of the College Football Playoff. He recorded 4,903 passing yards in the 2023 CFB season.
While Morris’ men broke their four-game losing streak against the Raiders, the team’s playoff hopes now rest on Penix’s shoulders.