Falke believed that Michael Penix Jr. able to start in week 1; Kirk Cousins ​​to consider retirement?

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. will make the first start of his professional career today following Atlanta’s momentous (but obvious) decision to bench the veteran Kirk Cousins for the benefit of the novice. While Cousins ​​— who had signed a four-year, $180MM deal this offseason to help lead the club on a championship run — was obviously given a long leash, the Falcons believed Penix was ready to take the reins from the jump .

As SI.com’s Albert Breer said during an interview last week TNF tonight program, Atlanta would have been comfortable starting Penix in Week 1 if necessary (video link). The Washington standout played collegiately for six years, and even when Cousins ​​was atop the depth chart, Penix was getting about 10 first-team reps a week while seeing plenty of action with the scout team.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds further context, writing that Penix wore the same listening device in his helmet as Cousins ​​during practice and would watch film of what Cousins ​​did and then mentally review it himself before running the same plays with the club’s young receivers. Rapoport also noted that at each practice there was a competitive period where Penix would have the opportunity to run the Falcons’ plays instead of scouting. Those options could be the same first-teamers Breer referenced, but in any case, Atlanta has long believed Penix is ​​physically and mentally prepared to take on QB1 duties.

Of course, his arm strength and running ability should also open up the playbook. Breer notes that Cousins ​​hurt his shoulder and elbow during a Week 10 loss to the Saints, and that the veteran signal-caller hasn’t been the same since. In fact, prior to that New Orleans contest, Cousins ​​was coming off a two-game stretch in which he threw for seven TDs and no interceptions while posting QB ratings of 145.9 and 144.8. But in the next five games, he threw just one touchdown against nine interceptions, and his physical ailments limited the Falcons from a play-calling standpoint.

There will be no such restriction with Penix at the controls, and the expectation is that Cousins ​​will be released in the offseason. Rapoport acknowledges that a release is generally considered the most likely outcome, but he leaves open the possibility that the Falcons could keep Cousins ​​as a high-end backup/insurance policy since they are obligated to pay his fully guaranteed $27.5MM 2025- salary anyway (and since Penix will still be on his affordable rookie deal).

The bigger problem, at least from a financial perspective, would be 10 mill. dollars the 2026 roster bonus that locks in if Cousins ​​is still on the roster on the fifth day of the 2025 league year in March. Still, a Cousins ​​return remains on the table and is more plausible than a trade. The four-time Pro Bowler has a full no-trade clause, and since he’s much more valuable to another team as a veteran-minimum free agent than a trade candidate, he’s not expected to waive the NTC (his situation is similar Russell Wilson‘s, who was able to sign with the Steelers for the veteran minimum after his Broncos release this offseason when Denver was on the hook for his 2024 salary).

However, cousins ​​may consider retiring. He will turn 37 before the 2025 season begins, and Rapoport says Cousins ​​is expected to take a month or so after the current campaign ends to consider his playing future. He would walk away from a large sum of money if he were to call it a career, but the master negotiator has already made just $300 million from his NFL contracts.