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Marc Raimondi, ESPN writer
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said Monday that he will be ready if the Atlanta Falcons coaching staff calls him, but he knows the decision is out of his hands. In fact, he believes Kirk Cousins will be able to stem the tide this season.
Cousins is in the midst of arguably the worst stretch of his 13-year NFL career, with six interceptions in the last three games without a touchdown pass. The Falcons have lost all three of those games and have turned a commanding lead in the NFC South into a statistical tie atop the division with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team they swept earlier in the season. Cousins threw four interceptions in a 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
For all those reasons, Penix’s name has started to emerge among fans and experts. The Falcons selected Penix, the former University of Washington standout quarterback, with the No. 8 pick in the NFL draft in April. He has been billed as the quarterback of the future.
“He’s a veterinarian,” Penix said of Cousins. “He’s been in a lot of different situations, so I have no doubt he’ll bounce back and be great this weekend and the rest of the season.”
Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Sunday that the team has no intention of benching Cousins.
“That’s not going to be the issue here,” Morris said of a quarterback controversy. “That guy has taken us. That guy has taken us to the point where we are 6-6 and first place in the division. We have everything ahead of us despite what happened today. It’s up to us to bounce back.” and find a way to win soccer games. There is no better man than. [Cousins] do that for us.”
Penix has only seen time in two games this season, both in fourth-quarter blowouts. He is 3 of 5 for 38 yards. Penix said he’s not focused on Cousins’ problems or the outside noise.
“I felt like I was put in this position for a reason,” Penix said. “Everything is God’s plan. Everything is in his hands. I just have to come here and work every day. Kirk is a great quarterback. He showed it many times this season. Not everyone is going to be perfect. That’s just what it is. I haven’t played perfect in my entire life.”
However, if the time comes, Penix said he will be ready if Morris and company say his name.
“I have to be, because you never know when the opportunity presents itself. [comes]”Penix said. “So I’m always ready, but at the end of the day, like I said, it’s not up to me. “I just have to continue to be ready, continue to be ready for that moment, whenever that may be.”
Cousins and Penix have developed a relationship over the past few months. The two live on the same street in the Atlanta suburbs and sometimes carpool to fly together for away games.
“He takes responsibility for everything in meetings, he always will,” Penix said of Cousins. “He never points fingers. He’s just a first-class guy in everything he does, and that’s what I really appreciate about him… You don’t see him act out of character for anything. He’s been in so many positions.” different, like I said, throughout his football career, at the end of the day he knows it wasn’t him and he knows he can be better and he will be better, and that’s what this whole team believes in.”
