Former Washington Huskies star Michael Penix Jr. has seen action in just two games during his rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons: he made his NFL debut and came in in relief during a blowout loss to the Denver Broncos.
While sitting behind Kirk Cousins after being selected with the No. 8 overall pick may not have been the future Penix envisioned for himself during his final year with the Huskies, general manager Terry Fontenot has repeatedly stated he chose Penix when considering his team’s long-term future.
With the Falcons sitting at 6-6, tied for first in the NFC South, and coming off a 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, ESPN’s Mina Kimes believes it’s time for Penix to get his opportunity and infuse some life into a struggling Atlanta offense.
“I’ve felt like his physical limitations are holding this offense back,” Kimes said of Cousins on NFL Live. “You drafted Michael Penix Jr. No. 8 overall…I will criticize that decision infinitely more if they don’t give Penix a shot this season. You’re throwing away a season where not only do you have a chance to win the division, but you could potentially go farther if you see something with the young quarterback.”
Cousins, who is 35 years old and coming off a torn Achilles tendon, has looked the part of an ailing veteran for the majority of the season. He threw 4 interceptions in the loss to the Chargers and has thrown no touchdown passes and 6 picks in the last three weeks.
Despite being No. 5 in the NFL in passing yards with 3,052, the underlying numbers for Cousins are concerning to say the least, especially for a player who’s in the first season of a four-year, $180 million contract. He leads the league with 13 interceptions and has been able to muster a meager 21.4 points per game despite having a strong supporting cast around him.
Three of Atlanta’s final five regular season games are against some of the NFL’s worst defenses: the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, and Carolina Panthers, and could give Penix a great opportunity to prove himself if head coach Raheem Morris and the front office feel that it’s time for a change.
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