Kirk Cousins offers candid response regarding benching

Kirk Cousins offers candid response regarding benching

It’s funny how things work, right? Even after the Atlanta Falcons paid quarterback Kirk Cousins $180 million ($100 million guaranteed) over four years, coming off a torn Achilles at 35-years-old, they drafted Michael Penix Jr. No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Given the circumstances, it was a bold move. But it appears the insurance plan will be starting much quicker than any of us thought at the time.

Head coach Raheem Morris announced Tuesday that the Falcons will be starting Penix Week 16 against the New York Giants. Cousins, who’s struggled mightily to begin the 2024 season, offered a candid response to why he was benched in favor of the 24-year-old rookie Wednesday.

“It’s pro football. There’s a standard that I have for myself, that the team has for me,” Cousins said, according to NFL.com’s Nick Shook. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t playing up to that standard consistently enough. It is what it is. You roll with it. Now, you still get ready, one play away kind of a thing, and support Mike and just try to help our team be able to find a way to win these last three to get in the playoffs. That’s what it’s all about. That’s my focus.”

Cousins, 36, is experiencing one of the worst seasons of his career. He’s completing 66.9 percent of his attempts for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and an NFL-most 16 interceptions. His 4.0 touchdown percentage is the second-lowest of his career; his 88.6 passer rating is the third-lowest; his 3.5 interception rate is the fourth-highest and his 52.7 QBR is the fourth-lowest. It’s been a very bad season by all accounts for the 13-year signal caller.

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If you’ve been reading Vendetta for a while, Penix was not a pre-draft favorite by Trey. He will now have three weeks–against the Giants, Commanders and Panthers–to get his feet wet before competing for the starting gig as soon as next year, depending on how the quarterback situation pans out. Those three defenses are No. 28, 23 and 31 in defensive EPA/play, so it’s not a tall task. His time is now, so let’s see what he’s got!

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