Falcons ‘comfy’ with Kirk Cousins as backup…
The Falcons are supposedly OK with a $180 million backup quarterback.
Atlanta common supervisor Terry Fontenot mentioned the franchise is “comfortable” with preserving Kirk Cousins on as the No. 2 behind Michael Penix Jr. in 2025.
“Kirk is a great man and he’s been great support for Mike, a great teammate, great support for everybody in the building, so we’re very confident moving forward with him as the backup,” Fontenot mentioned during a Thursday press convention.
Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons warms up previous to a recreation in opposition to the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 22, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images
Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons final offseason, struggled during his first season in Atlanta after getting back from an Achilles tear.
The 36-year-old threw a career- and league-high 16 interceptions in simply 14 video games earlier than shedding the beginning job to Penix, whom Atlanta took with the No. 8 decide within the 2024 NFL Draft.
While chatting with reporters Thursday, Fontenot mentioned the workforce anticipated “to get high-level quarterback play for two seasons” out of Cousins after they signed him to the large deal final March.
Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons look on from the sideline during the fourth quarter in opposition to the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 22, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images
“We understand that that didn’t happen,” Fontenot continued. “Nobody was completely happy to make the swap at that time. … So now what occurs is we needed to speed up that plan and go to Mike earlier and but the allocation of the quarterback place — the cap allocation — is we’re eighth within the league.
“That’s what we planned for with Kirk as the starter. He’s not the starter anymore, but we’re very comfortable moving forward with him as the backup.”
In December, ESPN reported that Cousins was anticipated to be cut by Atlanta earlier than his $10 million roster bonus hits on March 1, though NFL Network refuted that, reporting a day later that preserving the veteran QB isn’t “off the table.”
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) throws a go in opposition to the Carolina Panthers within the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Brett Davis-Imagn Images
If they cling on to Cousins by way of March 1, the Falcons are sure to dangle him on the commerce market in hopes of getting out from below the big-money contract.
After temporary appearances in two video games earlier than getting the beginning job, Penix threw for 737 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions as the Falcons’ QB1 over their last three video games.
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