In a surprising twist for Atlanta, veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is back under center for the Falcons after being benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. during the 2024 season. While Penix has been inconsistent through six games this season, he has shown flashes of brilliance, leaving fans curious about what prompted the change at quarterback.
Why Was Michael Penix Jr. Benched?
To be clear, Penix wasn’t benched, and he is sidelined because of an injury, though some fans are speculating it’s a “soft bench.”
The second-year quarterback suffered a knee bone bruise during the Falcons’ 20-10 loss to San Francisco on Sunday night. He was seen heading to the medical tent late in the game after taking multiple hits. Head coach Raheem Morris initially labeled Penix “day-to-day,” and Wednesday’s injury report confirmed the issue is with his knee, not his ankle as first reported.
Penix was limited in practice throughout the week. While Morris and Penix himself described the injury as minor, Cousins took “significant” first-team reps through the week, signaling the team was preparing for the possibility of a quarterback change.
Late Saturday night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed that Penix would officially be sidelined, with Cousins set to make his first start of the season.
“Falcons Kirk Cousins officially is starting Sunday in place of the injured Michael Penix, per sources. It will mark Cousins’ first start this season,” Schefter posted.
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons during the 2024 offseason and served as the team’s primary starter before being replaced by Penix in Week 16. The veteran quarterback brings extensive experience and proven production to the position and isn’t necessarily a downgrade for the Falcons.
Atlanta has been looking to trade Cousins for a long time now, and with the trade deadline approaching, the game could serve as a showcase. But given Penix’s inconsistent play, if Cousins can step up on Sunday, things will likely get interesting in Atlanta.
Penix was drafted eighth overall by the Falcons in 2024, but has yet to fully live up to expectations. Through six games, he has thrown for 1,409 yards and five touchdowns against three interceptions, completing 61% of his passes. He currently ranks 25th in PFSN’s QB Impact metric.
Of the 13 starting quarterbacks with negative EPA per dropback averages, only Tua Tagovailoa ranks higher than Penix on these rankings. It’s a testament to some of the highs Penix has shown, like his 313-yard outing in the Falcons’ win over the Commanders in Week 4.
However, if inconsistency persists, Cousins could see a longer stretch as Atlanta’s starter, barring a trade.