Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins won’t take the field Friday when the Falcons face the Cowboys, leaving backups to carry the load in the preseason finale. Head coach Raheem Morris confirmed the move Monday, signaling that Atlanta is content letting its top two quarterbacks sit while juggling depth concerns.
Penix, last year’s No. 8 overall pick, is heading into his second season and now this as a starter will not see any preseason action. His only live-game NFL experience came late in 2024 after the team benched Cousins. Over three starts, he completed 58 percent of his passes for 775 yards, throwing three touchdowns and three interceptions as the Falcons went 1-2 with two overtime losses.
The situation is complicated further by Emory Jones, who entered concussion protocol after a hit against Tennessee last Friday. Atlanta quickly added Ben DiNucci on Monday to help stabilize the quarterback room. Even with backups in place, the Falcons are entering the regular season with a limited window to evaluate their top signal-callers in live action.
The stakes are even higher with a Week 1 matchup against division rival Tampa Bay looming. Penix will need to translate practice work and film study into game-day execution immediately, while Cousins will have to rely on experience to pick up where live reps leave off.
For Falcons fans, the question is will this QB struggle in the regular season, or will the lack of preseason reps leave Atlanta scrambling right out of the gate? The preseason finale may seem low stakes, but with a critical divisional game on the horizon, the implications are massive. If Penix and Cousins can carry momentum from practice into games, the gamble could pay off. If not, the Falcons’ Week 1 opener could expose the team’s quarterback fragility.