The Atlanta Falcons haven’t won a game since November 3. In that time, starting quarterback Kirk Cousins has thrown no touchdown passes and 8 interceptions, leading many NFL fans to wonder if it’s time to give former Washington Huskies star Michael Penix Jr. a shot.
Atlanta selected the runner-up for the 2023 Heisman Trophy with the No. 8 overall pick, shocking football fans since the organization had given Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract just six weeks earlier. However, amid the 36-year-old’s struggles, the selection makes even more sense.
According to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, Penix has already proven himself to his teammates as the best quarterback on the Falcons, but the team doesn’t want to make the change yet for one glaring reason.
“I truly believe the only reason the Falcons haven’t gone to Michael Penix Jr. yet is because of optics, because the Falcons gave Kirk Cousins $100 million guaranteed,” Schultz said on Speak. “I’ve had players inside that locker room tell me point blank, Michael Penix Jr. is the best quarterback in this building.”
Cousins has thrown a league-leading 15 interceptions in his first season in Atlanta and has also fumbled 12 times as the Falcons now sit in second place in the NFC South behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, even with a weak stretch of opponents coming up, it doesn’t appear that coach Raheem Morris is ready to give Penix the nod just yet.
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