The Atlanta Falcons are sticking with Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback amid a three-game losing streak that has seen the 36-year-old toss six interceptions with no touchdowns.
Cousins tossed four INTs in Sunday’s 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, posting the fifth-worst passer rating in his 13-year career.
Still, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said the team will not be making a change to rookie Michael Penix Jr. when the Falcons travel to Minnesota this week.
“That guy has carried us this season,” Morris said. “He has done such a marvelous job that it’s hard to throw that guy under the bus after what he’s done for us. We will bounce back, we will bring him back and we’ll be ready to go.”
Morris added that Cousins has “got us to the point where we are 6-6, still in first place in the division, still got everything in front of us. It’s up to us to bounce back and win football games, and there is no better man than (No.) 18 to do that for us.”
Cousins, who signed a four-year deal worth up to $180 million with the Falcons in the offseason, has thrown for 3,052 yards and 17 touchdowns against 13 interceptions, a league high.
“There’s no entitlement in the NFL,” Cousins said. “If it ever was that, I wouldn’t want it. I need to play at a level that justifies being out there. That’s the way I’ll always view it. I’ve always felt like it should never be about anything except earning the right to be out there.”
Cousins makes his first return to Minnesota, where he starred for six seasons, earning three Pro Bowl nods and going 50-37-1 as the starter in a game with playoff implications for both sides.
When Cousins opted to take the Falcons’ offer in free agency, the Vikings signed Sam Darnold to replace him and drafted JJ McCarthy from Michigan with the 11th overall pick in the 2024 draft. Darnold guided Minnesota to a fifth consecutive win on Sunday, leading a late drive to beat the Arizona Cardinals 23-22.
“I have no doubt in my mind (Cousins) can bounce back, particularly against his former team,” Morris said.
