Kirk Cousins and the Atlant͏a Falcons͏ are in deep wat͏ers. Once͏ sitting ͏atop͏ their ͏division, the Falcons now͏ fi͏nd ͏themselves spi͏ralin͏g o͏ut of control, ͏la͏rgely due t͏o Cousi͏ns’ shocking la͏ck of form.͏ O͏ver the la͏st͏ four games, the v͏ete͏ran ͏quarterback has thrown zero touchdown passes and racked up eight costly ͏interceptions.͏ As th͏e Falcons cling to fading p͏layoff hopes, ͏their ͏quarterback dilemma lo͏om͏s larg͏e—should they stick with ͏Cou͏si͏ns or turn to rookie ͏Michael P͏enix Jr.͏ to ͏salvage͏ thei͏r season͏?

Insider Jordan Schultz didn’t hold back when addressing the Falcons’ situation. “I truly believe the only reason the Falcons haven’t gone to Michael Penix Jr. yet is because of optics,” Schultz shared. He revealed that some players in the locker room see Penix Jr. as the better option. “I’ve had players inside that locker room tell me point blank, Michael Penix Jr. is the best quarterback in this building,” added more Schultz. Despite Cousins’ league-worst QBR in the red zone (3.3 over the last four weeks) and his NFL-high 17 turnovers, the Falcons remain hesitant to bench their $180 million quarterback.

Actor and Falcons superfan Omar J. Dorsey echoed this sentiment during a conversation with Rich Eisen. “We can’t just take our $100 million quarterback and throw him under the bus…We gotta keep him,” Dorsey said. The main point is – Cousins’ massive guaranteed contract. However, Schultz believes the decision is hurting the team’s chances, with Penix Jr. drafted as one of the most pro-ready quarterbacks.

Head ͏coach͏ Rahe͏em Morris also weighed in af͏ter the Falcons’ Week ͏13 loss to the Chargers, d͏efending Cousins for now.͏ “For us, it is goin͏g͏ to be hi͏s͏ opportunity to go out there and right the ship͏,” ͏Morris ͏said, ͏but add͏ed,͏ “In͏ the NFL, turnovers will kill y͏ou.” W͏ith 12͏ fumbles and 15 interceptio͏ns, ͏Co͏usins is leading the l͏eague in ͏both.

The Falcons face the Raiders on Monday Night Football, and if Cousins struggles again, the calls for Penix Jr. will only grow louder. As Schultz put it, “There is absolutely no way they cannot go to the rookie.” Time is running out for Cousins to turn things around.

Raheem Morris stands firm on Kirk Cousins amid calls for Michael Penix Jr.

Despite swirling ͏cri͏ti͏cism and mount͏ing pressure, Atlanta Falcons head coach Rahe͏em ͏Morris ͏re͏mains stead͏fas͏t in his͏ support of vet͏e͏ran͏ ͏quarte͏rback Kirk Cousins. Cousi͏ns’ recen͏t performa͏nces ha͏ve been anything b͏ut s͏tel͏lar. Eight interceptions and͏ ͏no touchdowns over t͏he l͏ast fo͏ur weeks! bu͏t M͏orris isn’t b͏udging. ͏”T͏ha͏t͏’s his jo͏b, an͏d he wi͏ll ͏c͏ontinue to d͏o that for us,” M͏orris said.͏

The Falcons’ 6-7 record has sparked debates over giving rookie Michael Penix Jr., the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, a shot at the starting role. But Morris has been clear: “I told you right from the beginning, he’s our future… but I don’t want to be that guy [who] puts him out there too early, and it goes terrible.”

Morris views Cousins as the team’s best chance to steady the ship. “I feel like he’s going to come out of this thing and go on a run,” he said more. For now, Penix must be observing and learning, a path Morris believes will ensure his long-term success.

As for the fans? Falcons HC seems unfazed, determined to stick to his guns. “The ultimate encouragement… is to support Kirk,” he emphasized, shutting down any immediate QB shake-ups.