Imagine losing the starting job to a rookie for a veteran. That’s exactly what has happened to Kirk Cousins. And the veteran now faces an uncertain future. But is Cousins to blame for the Falcons’ woes? Or is it the offensive system that sabotaged his chances? Former QB Kurt Warner reflected on the challenges Cousins faces.

Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show, Warner argued that the Falcons’ offense failed to play to Cousins’ strengths. With uncertainty clouding his future, Cousins is urged to find a system that fits his skill set. Warner’s advice for Cousins? “If I’m Kirk Cousins, I’m thinking… ‘This offense didn’t fit me. I need to find an offense that fits me, because I believe I can still play at a high level, and that’s how you hold on to that confidence.”

Cousins’ stats from the last 5 games? He threw 9 interceptions while managing just 1 touchdown. Though he struggled within an offense that never played to his strengths. Despite the negative attention surrounding his performance, Warner encouraged Cousins to stay confident, emphasizing that his talent hasn’t diminished.

Kurt Warner defended Cousins, pointing to poor receiver routes and a lack of offensive cohesion. “All of us on the outside are looking at Kirk Cousins and just going, Oh my gosh, he’s terrible… And when you watch the film, I don’t think that’s the case,” Warner shared. “I don’t think he was ever comfortable in Atlanta.” Cousins, on the other hand, acknowledged his mistakes but also remained defiant.

“I didn’t forget how to play quarterback,” he insisted. However, his performances during this stretch didn’t align with the expectations that came with his $180 million contract. Will Atlanta keep him as an expensive backup, or is a split inevitable?

What’s next for Kirk Cousins?

The Falcons, now 7-7, face slim playoff odds. And Penix Jr. takes over as the starter, fueling speculation about Cousins’ future. Kurt Warner likened Cousins’ situation to his struggles late in his career. “The bottom line, Dan, is you’ve got to be realistic with your situation and you’ve got to take ownership of the stuff that’s yours,” Warner said. “And then you also know that there’s a lot of stuff going on around you that isn’t always on you.”

Cousins has endured a rough stretch. This includes a 4-interception game against the Chargers where miscommunications with his WRs were to blame. Coach Raheem Morris didn’t mince words, citing turnovers as the key reason for the switch. “We’ve been digging, as much as we can dig, to make things work, to try to get things going,” Morris explained. “We felt like we got a chance to play a little bit better. And if we can go out there and play better at quarterback, who knows what can happen?”

Speculation swirls about Cousins’ next move. His no-trade clause complicates things, but a release could make sense for both sides. Cousins is guaranteed $27.5 million for 2025, a pretty hefty price for a backup, one would say. The NFL isn’t short on teams in need of a quarterback. And Cousins still has a strong resume, including 4 Pro Bowl appearances and flashes of brilliance earlier this season.

While Atlanta may have moved on, Cousins hasn’t closed the book on his career. With plenty of quarterbacks in the league who lack the flare, it’s hard to imagine this being the end of “Kirko Chainz.” His next chapter may not involve Atlanta, but Kirk Cousins isn’t done yet.