Falcons coach Raheem Morris stated final week he did not need to rush rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., however with Atlanta combating for a playoff spot, Morris has modified his thoughts. Penix will take over for struggling starter Kirk Cousins.
“After overview we have now made the choice that Michael Penix would be the beginning quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons transferring ahead,” Morris stated within the launch. “This was a soccer choice and we’re absolutely targeted on making ready the crew for Sunday’s sport in opposition to the New York Giants.”
Atlanta is a contender within the weak NFC South regardless of one other shaky efficiency from quarterback Cousins that led to the Falcons changing into a run-first crew.
An ugly 15-9 win on the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday evening left the Falcons 7-7 and one sport behind Tampa Bay within the division.
(Related: Check out the newest playoff rankings)
The Falcons maintain the lead within the tiebreaker in opposition to the Buccaneers, main Morris to say after the sport, “That’s the place you need to be.”
Falcons beat Raiders 15-9, ought to Atlanta bench Kirk Cousins? | Breakfast ball
The win got here with Cousins passing for simply 112 yards with one landing and one interception. He supplied a bleak overview of his exit when he stated “It’s not the place I need to be.”
Cousins entered the sport with no landing passes and eight interceptions within the earlier 4 video games. He ended his landing drought with a 30-yard move to Drake London within the first quarter, however did not capitalize on that spotlight and added his league-leading sixteenth interception.
The Raiders (2-12) have the league’s worst document in opposition to the New York Giants, who deliver a nine-game dropping streak to Atlanta on Sunday. The Falcons then face a troublesome match in Washington (9-5) earlier than closing the common season at house in opposition to Carolina (3-11).
Penix solely appeared in two video games and didn’t play in opposition to Las Vegas.
Morris stated final week that staying with Cousins ”has nothing to do with not believing” in Penix. “But he is a rookie and we have now a plan from the start on how we need to make the most of and be capable to play with our rookie when the time comes.”
Morris additionally stated different coaches have “pulled the set off and put guys on the sector too early and it is gone terribly, proper? And I do not need to be that man.”
Cousins, 36, signed a four-year, $180 million contract within the offseason earlier than Penix was chosen No. 8 general within the NFL Draft.
The 24-year-old started his faculty profession in 2018 at Indiana, the place he remained by 2021. Penix then transferred to Washington and put collectively back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons. In 2023, he threw for 4,903 FBS yards, together with 36 touchdowns, and was runner-up within the Heisman Trophy. He additionally led the Huskies to the nationwide championship sport, the place they misplaced to the Michigan Wolverines.
Morris says the Falcons by no means wavered from the assumption that Penix was their future starter.
This week he determined that the longer term is now.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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