Kirk Cousins is highly likely to start at quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, according to sources.
The change comes as starter Michael Penix Jr. recovers from a bone bruise in his left knee, which he sustained during last week’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Penix was limited in practice over the final two days of the week and is officially listed as questionable for the game.
On Friday, Falcons Head Coach Raheem Morris confirmed that Cousins had taken “significant” reps in practice. “I’m really confident in our backup,” Morris said of Cousins. “We’re gonna give [Penix] every opportunity we can give him. The kid is tough. He’s a guy, he’s a stud.”
The expected start marks a return for the 37-year-old veteran, who was benched in Week 16 of last season in favor of Penix, then a rookie. Before his demotion, Cousins had guided the Falcons to a 6-3 start before a right elbow and shoulder injury contributed to a downturn where he threw nine interceptions over a five-game stretch.
As a starter, Penix has compiled a 4-5 record, including the team’s 3-3 record this season. The second-year quarterback has completed 61% of his passes for 1,409 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions, earning a 47.7 QBR that ranks 22nd in the league.
Coincidentally, Saturday marks the 10-year anniversary of Cousins’ famous “You like that?!” postgame exclamation, which followed Washington’s 31-30 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Source link
