vox888 Michael Penix Jr., the eighth-overall rookie draft pick, will replace Kirk Cousins ​​as the Atlanta Falcons host the New York Giants on Sunday.

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris has confirmed that No. 8 rookie draft pick Michael Penix Jr. will start in place of Kirk Cousins ​​after the 36-year-old quarterback’s continued underwhelming campaign, ESPN reports. vox888

The Falcons ended a four-game losing streak with a 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday, but Cousins ​​completed just 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards, one touchdown and one interception. It was his ninth interception and only one touchdown in his last five games, prompting Morris to pull the 36-year-old from the starting lineup. 

“After careful consideration, we have determined that Michael Penix will remain the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons,” Morris said. “This was a decision made by the football team and we are fully focused on preparing for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.”

Cousins ​​did not throw on a first down play throughout the first half of Monday Night’s game, the first time in his 13-year career that he did so. The 36-year-old quarterback threw on a second down play of the second half, resulting in an interception to Raiders linebacker Robert Spellen. 

A series of poor performances and poor decisions by Cousins ​​led Morris to play mostly on the ground, with Falcons running backs Baijan Robinson and Tyler Algiers hauling in a combined 34 carries. 

Cousins ​​is completing 64.7 percent of his passes, has 18 touchdowns and a league-high 16 interceptions. He also has a league-high 12 fumbles, tied with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. 

The Falcons recently made a big investment, signing Cousins ​​to a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed after his contract with the Minnesota Vikings expired this past offseason, but most of that money will run out by 2026, when the team paid the 36-year-old $62.5 million this season. 

Penix, 24, led the Washington Huskies to the national championship game last season, completing 65.4 percent of his passes for a nation-leading 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his final year as a Huskies before the Falcons selected him with the No. 8 overall pick in April shortly after signing Cousins. 

Morris also said of Penix before the QB change, “You can’t say there’s a downside to somebody you’ve invested a lot of money in, somebody you’ve brought here, somebody you’ve done some things with, somebody who’s said the right things since they’ve been here.” ( vox888 )