FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Kirk Cousins was signed to a massive four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons because he was perceived to be the missing piece at quarterback for a team that otherwise was ready for a return to the playoffs.
Cousins lost his starting job to rookie Michael Penix Jr. because coach Raheem Morris concluded Cousins’ turnovers were the biggest barrier to the team’s playoff hopes.
That conclusion was difficult for Cousins to hear when Morris benched him last week, but the veteran told the Falcons he was focused on “being the best backup in the National Football League” ahead of the rookie’s first start — an impressive win over the hapless New York Giants.
“For those guys to be able to go out there and work together, even through [Cousins’s] tough time this week, I thought it was outstanding,” Morris said. “All the way up until right before the game praying together.
“He definitely expressed to me he’s going to be the best No. 2 quarterback in the National Football League,” Morris said.
Cousins has been a backup before — he played behind Robert Griffin III in Washington early in his career.
“It’s pro football, and it was a standard that I have for myself and the team has for me,” Cousins said last week. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t playing up to that standard consistently enough.”
In Cousins’ last five games, the Falcons went 1-4 as the veteran threw one touchdown pass with nine interceptions. The win over the Giants Sunday has the Falcons back in contention to win the NFC South.
Cousins told reporters after the benching that he will support Penix but he had a quick answer when asked if he believed he can still start in the NFL.
“I didn’t forget how to play quarterback,” Cousins said. “Certainly turnovers were not what you want, but I didn’t forget how to play.”
Cousins insisted health and confidence were not issues in his turnovers but instead said he just needs to make better decisions.
The promotion of Penix to the starting role was not a one-week decision, Morris said before the Giants game, and the rookie’s solid performance in his first NFL start — he was 18 of 27 for 202 yards and one pick — could mean Cousins will be looking for a new team in the off season.
If Cousins, 36, doesn’t start another game for Atlanta, it would be a costly 14-game stint because he signed a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed.
Morris said Falcons owner Arthur Blank was “extremely supportive,” but the coach acknowledged the decision to bench Cousins has financial ramifications. Morris said those factors were outweighed by the drive for the team’s first playoff appearance since 2017.
“Obviously it definitely has some financial implications for us and how you go about your process,” Morris said. “And that’s definitely one of the deals where we’re always going to make football decisions in order to win the football game. And that’s always going to be first and foremost.”
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