Behind the scenes, former Washington Huskies star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is making a strong case to take over for Kirk Cousins as the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback. According to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, Penix has been “lighting it up” in practice.
“I’ve been told Penix has been lighting it up in practice, so a switch would be justified if they felt like making the move,” Howe wrote. “Under no circumstances would I start Penix against the Vikings, but the remaining games against the Raiders, Giants, Commanders, and Panthers would be appealing.”
While Cousins ranks No. 6 in the NFL in passing yards with 3,052, his underlying numbers have been less than stellar for someone who signed a four-year, $180 million contract in March. He also leads the league with 13 interceptions, while Atlanta’s offense, which is littered with first-round picks, constantly looks underwhelming and struggles to push the ball downfield, averaging 21.4 points per game.
Penix’s live arm could certainly fix those issues if Morris decides to make a chance, as his accuracy and ability to thread tight windows downfield could unlock pass catchers Drake London and Kyle Pitts, while giving running back Bijan Robinson more room to operate.
With some soft defenses ahead of them on the schedule, Morris might consider making a chance if the 36-year-old Cousins continues to struggle.
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