The Washington Commanders are 9-5 and currently hold the seventh seed in the NFC playoff picture. They host the Eagles on Sunday before finishing the season against the Falcons and Cowboys.
On Tuesday, the NFL flexed Washington’s Week 17 game against Atlanta onto Sunday Night Football. Two teams battling for a playoff spot would feature Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels against Kirk Cousins.
Not anymore.
After his recent struggles, the Falcons benched Cousins 14 games into his first season with the franchise. Last offseason, Atlanta gave Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract with $90 million fully guaranteed. Cousins has completed 67% of his passes for 3,508 yards, with 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
🚨 🚨 🚨
The #Falcons are making a major change, as Michael Penix Jr is expected to take over at QB, with Kirk Cousins going the bench.
Atlanta is still in the thick of the playoff hunt, and Cousins has struggled mightily. Now, Penix takes over. pic.twitter.com/xTPLBovmOd
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 18, 2024
Starting in place of Cousins is rookie first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. Penix was selected eighth overall in the 2024 NFL draft. It was a controversial selection, considering the contract Atlanta had given Cousins only a month earlier.
Cousins spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with Washington. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft and appeared in 62 games, with 57 starts. Cousins left the franchise after the 2017 season and spent the next six years with the Minnesota Vikings before signing with the Falcons in March.
Cousins, 36, tore his Achilles in October 2023. but returned in time for Week 1 of the 2024 season.
The Falcons are 7-7, two games behind the Commanders for the seventh seed.