Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins may be in the toughest position of all. The players and coaching staff will be doing a lot of self-scouting and evaluation leading into their rematch against the Miami Dolphins. Without a trade, Cousins is guaranteed to make $27.5M this year while being mostly a high-priced backup. The prospects of Michael Penix Jr., the projected No. 8 overall draft pick in 2024, further muddied his waters. Now, he’s questionable for Sunday’s game due to a knee injury.
Cousins also came to the Falcons after a disastrous stint characterized by both personal and professional ups and downs. Last season, he carried the Heels to a surprising 6-3 start. In what turned into a pivotal five-game stretch, he fell apart, throwing a league-high nine picks. This dropoff was enough for Cousins to lose his starting job to Penix Jr. in Week 16. It was a massive change, as Cousins seems like a good candidate to be traded—or even released—during the offseason according to plenty of analysts and speculators.
For all his experience, Cousins was certainly still navigating new territory early this season, having missed most of the voluntary offseason workouts. His dedication to the organization has, understandably, been called into question as well. Per reports, he wanted to go somewhere where he could be a starter again, leading to some uncertainty about his long-term plans with the Falcons. His veteran presence is still a positive asset to have on the roster if Reid and Goff need him.
Penix Jr. went down with an injury late in last Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. Now, his availability for the crucial upcoming showdown with Miami is up in the air. If he’s unable to suit up, the Falcons need Cousins to step up. He’s turned into the X factor here.
Cousins, who has been recovering from a season-ending Achilles injury, hasn’t started a game since last season. Yet his wealth of experience in high-pressure situations might be most crucial should he receive the call. What is the Falcons’ coaching staff to do, with huge implications for their long-term QB decision-making as they head into this weekend.
Leave a Reply