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The Atlanta Falcons<\/a> are making the move they clearly did not want to make \u2013 replacing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins<\/a> with rookie Michael Penix Jr.<\/a> starting immediately.<\/p>\n Falcons head coach Raheem Morris announced the decision<\/a> Tuesday night in a statement released by the team.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter review we have made the decision Michael Penix Jr. will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward,\u201d the statement read. \u201cThis was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday\u2019s game against the New York Giants<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n That statement came less than four hours after Morris had hinted at the move<\/a> during a regularly scheduled news conference the day after the Falcons improved to 7-7 by beating the Raiders<\/a> 15-9 in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t play particularly well at the quarterback position,\u201d Morris said. \u201cThat\u2019s the thing that\u2019s got to be addressed.\u201d<\/p>\n Penix was drafted eighth by the Falcons in April. It was a surprise move at the time considering the organization had signed Cousins to a four-year free-agency deal the previous month that guaranteed the 13-year veteran $90 million in salary the first two seasons and had a total potential worth of $180 million.<\/p>\n The plan at the time was to sit Penix behind Cousins for at least a year, and Morris had been holding out hope as recently as last week that he could stick with that plan. The head coach, who was hired in January, repeatedly referred to Penix as \u201cthe future\u201d and said the Falcons were committed to their \u201cplan\u201d at the position.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can look at organizations that have put young guys out there too early, and it\u2019s gone terrible and I don\u2019t want to be that guy,\u201d Morris said last week. \u201cI do know the plan that I have and what I want to do for that young man.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Cousins\u2019 last five games convinced the Falcons they could no longer stick to the plan. He threw nine interceptions and one touchdown in that span and ranked 33rd in the league in expected points added per dropback (minus-.14). When the quarterback was told Monday night that Morris said he needed to play better, Cousins replied, \u201cIt\u2019s stating the obvious.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s a mystery,\u201d he said after passing for 112 yards. \u201cEvery week you go through your process and plan to go out there and play the very best you can. This week will be no different.\u201d<\/p>\n Morris said Tuesday that he didn\u2019t notice any physical issues with Cousins that \u201cjump off the page.\u201d The 36-year-old returned this season from a ruptured Achilles tendon that ended his 2023 season after eight games.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of it is natural progress of erosion through a football season,\u201d Morris said of Cousins\u2019 appearance in the pocket.<\/p>\n The start to Cousins\u2019 season made it look like Atlanta\u2019s long-term plan was going to work. He was fourth in the league in passing yards (2,328) and touchdowns (17) and seventh in EPA per dropback (.15) through Week 9, and the Falcons raced to a two-game lead in the NFC South.<\/p>\n From there, though, Atlanta lost four straight and fell behind Tampa Bay (8-6) in the division as Cousins floundered. According to The Athletic\u2019s projections, the Falcons now have a 23 percent chance to win the division and a 31 percent chance to make the playoffs.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cKirk got us into a point of contention,\u201d Morris said last week. \u201cYou have to have the resolve to stay steady-handed with a guy you believe in. I don\u2019t want to be like some organizations that make harsh decisions on your people when they make their mistakes. It\u2019s our job and my job to back him at the highest level of certainty to get him to get out there and play better. He\u2019s going to come out of this thing, and he\u2019s going to go on a run here.\u201d<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t, though, and now the Falcons are turning to Penix, the former University of Washington quarterback who led the Huskies to the national title game last season and twice was a Heisman Trophy finalist. How the Falcons handle Cousins from here is an open question. It would cost them $65 million in dead money if they released him after this season, according to Over the Cap. If they hold on to him through the 2025 season either in a return to the starting role or as a backup, they could cut him after that season and incur only a $25 million dead cap hit.<\/p>\n The Falcons could also attempt to trade Cousins this offseason. The Raiders, Titans<\/a> and Giants are expected to draft a quarterback but might also be interested in bringing in a veteran to help the transition. The Saints<\/a>, Panthers<\/a>, and Jets<\/a> could also make changes.<\/p>\n Cousins\u2019 track record of success will give him some value on the trade market despite this season, in which he stands 17th in EPA per dropback (minus-.05). However, his time ends in Atlanta, this is not how anyone envisioned it.<\/p>\n (Photo: Kevin Sabitus \/ Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nRequired reading<\/h2>\n