The Atlanta Falcons have made a major roster move: They have decided to bench quarterback Kirk Cousins in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr., according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
With Atlanta in the midst of a playoff hunt — currently one game ahead of the NFC South — first-year head coach Raheem Morris has decided to hand the reins to the University of Washington rookie.
Cousins has struggled in recent weeks as his transition from Minnesota to Atlanta has not been smooth.
With cries from the fan base for a change, Morris pulled the trigger and will now start Penix when the Falcons host the New York Giants this week.
Cousins currently ranks seventh in the NFL in passing yards (3,508) and 13th in completion percentage.
But his touchdown-to-interception ratio of 18-16 ranks terribly compared to other NFL starters, especially when it comes to playoff-contending teams.
The decision comes after Cousins’ unimpressive performance against one of the league’s worst teams: the Las Vegas Raiders.
On Monday Night Football, Cousins completed just 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
With Cousins struggling to improve, Penix has been thrust into the starting role at a time when the Falcons need to win to reach the playoffs.
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