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Rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. might not suit up for Sunday’s matchup against Miami due to a knee problem, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris announced Friday.
The first-year signal-caller was spotted limping late during last Sunday night’s game against San Francisco, though he stayed on the field to finish the contest. Atlanta (3-3) later confirmed Penix is dealing with a bone bruise in his left knee.
Morris has remained optimistic throughout the week about Penix’s availability. “We feel good about his chances,” the coach said earlier this week, but they’ll make the final call on Sunday morning.
The team isn’t taking chances with their prized rookie.
Should Penix be sidelined, veteran Kirk Cousins would step back into the starting role. Morris revealed that Cousins took a “significant” portion of practice reps this week – especially during the later sessions.
Cousins began 2023 as Atlanta’s starter, guiding the team to a promising 6-3 record before a disastrous five-game stretch where he threw nine interceptions. The veteran eventually lost his job to Penix – the team’s No. 8 overall pick in last April’s draft – in Week 16.
The situation has created an expensive backup scenario – Cousins is earning $27.5 million this season to hold a clipboard. Many analysts expected Atlanta would trade or release the veteran during the offseason, particularly after Cousins reportedly informed the organization he’d prefer starting elsewhere.
Cousins was notably absent from most voluntary offseason activities. However, during June’s mandatory minicamp, he clarified his position: “That was an offseason conversation,” he said. “Right now I’m focused on helping this team win games however I can.”
