Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said that the team is comfortable moving forward next year with quarterback Kirk Cousins as the backup to Michael Penix Jr. It's very unlikely that Cousins will be in Atlanta next year as a backup with a $40 million salary cap hit. The more likely outcome this offseason is that the Falcons end up trading Cousins to a team looking for a veteran QB while they find their signal-caller of the future in the draft. If Cousins were to be cut before June 1, he'd carry a $65 million cap hit for 2025. The 36-year-old is also due a $10 million roster cut on March 17, so if he's not traded, Atlanta is expected to cut him before then. Cousins was benched for Penix in Week 16 and ended up being a bust after signing a four-year, $180 million deal last offseason. The four-time Pro Bowler threw for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and a league-high 16 interceptions in his 14 starts.
Jan 9, 2025 12:26 PM EST
The Cleveland Browns could pursue veteran quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins for the 2025 season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Cleveland recently restructured Deshaun Watson's contract to presumably keep him on the team next season, but the team's desire to bring in quarterback competition has been well-documented. Both Rodgers and Cousins, who seem likely to be on new teams next season, are strong candidates to push for the starting job over Watson in Cleveland. Rodgers has come on strong with nine passing touchdowns over his last five games, but there has been plenty of speculation that he and the Jets are headed for a divorce. Meanwhile, Cousins was benched in the midst of his first season with the Falcons after tossing seven interceptions in a three-game span.
Dec 29, 2024 12:49 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected to be released before his $10 million roster bonus is due on March 17, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Cousins signed a hefty four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons last offseason, but the move hasn't panned out very well for Atlanta. The veteran quarterback has the Falcons at 7-7 and second place in the NFC East. He has completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and a career-high 16 interceptions. Cousins was benched for first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. ahead of Week 16, and with the news that he'll be cut loose next March, it's possible that the veteran signal-caller doesn't register another snap in a Falcons jersey. The 36-year-old's proven track record should help him land a job somewhere else, but he won't get nearly as lucrative of a deal. He likely won't be a shoo-in to start with his next team, either.
Dec 21, 2024 9:10 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins was benched in favor of first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. this week after throwing nine interceptions in a five-game span in which the team went 1-4. Cousins, 36, is unlikely to be the No. 1 QB in Atlanta again this year, and the chances that the 13-year veteran signal-caller comes back in 2025 as the backup are slim. Cousins has a no-trade clause after signing a four-year, $180 million deal last offseason with around $100 million guaranteed. If the Falcons cut Cousins, they'll get hit with $65 million in dead money. If they designate him a post-June 1 cut, they dead money would spread over the next two seasons -- $40 million in 2025 and $25 million in 2026. A trade could be pulled off if Cousins approves it, and in that scenario, the Falcons would be on the hook for the remaining $37.5 million of remaining proration. Cousins also has a $10 million roster bonus for 2026.
Dec 20, 2024 12:05 PM EST
The Atlanta Falcons are benching quarterback Kirk Cousins heading into their Week 16 game against the New York Giants in favor of first-rounder Michael Penix Jr., according to head coach Raheem Morris. Despite signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in the offseason, the Falcons are turning the page as they try to secure a playoff spot in the final three weeks. In the last five games, the 36-year-old Cousins has really struggled, throwing only one touchdown and nine interceptions. He went 11-for-17 for only 112 yards with a touchdown and interception in Monday's win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Cousins leads the NFL with 16 interceptions and has failed to give the Atlanta offense the boost he was expected to provide. Penix, 24, has lots of upside as the eighth overall pick, but he's raw -- he's played in two games and has gone 3-for-5 for 38 yards. The strong-armed lefty will be a low-end QB2 with upside.
Dec 17, 2024 11:28 PM EST
When asked if quarterback Kirk Cousins was still the Atlanta Falcons' starter heading into Week 16 against the New York Giants this Sunday, head coach Raheem Morris was non-committal. "We just got back. We still have to go through that process. All those things will happen over the course of the week. We didn't play well enough at the quarterback position," Morris said. The Falcons didn't really need the arm of Cousins in their 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night, and he went 11-for-17 for 112 yards, one touchdown and a league-high 16th interception of the season. In the four previous games, the 36-year-old veteran failed to throw a TD while tossing eight interceptions. Atlanta could probably get away with another similar game script against New York this weekend, but Cousins' downfall could lead the team to turn to rookie first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. Stay tuned.
Dec 17, 2024 7:02 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins threw his first touchdown pass since Week 9 in Monday's 15-9 win over the Raiders, however, the team leaned heavily on the run game in this one, tallying 168 rush yards between Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Cousins completed only 11 passes but was asked to throw the ball just 17 times in the contest, racking up a paltry 112 yards passing. The 36-year-old threw the touchdown pass late in the first quarter, but also tossed an interception and looked out of sorts outside of the lone TD, which seemingly exacerbated the need to lean on the run and was the reason for so few pass attempts. Despite the win, it was not an encouraging performance if you're a Falcons fan hoping for a playoff run. The veteran will take on the Giants in Atlanta next Sunday, but for fantasy, hopefully managers have other options available at this point with fantasy championships on the line.
Dec 17, 2024 12:36 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins hasn't thrown a touchdown pass since Week 9, a stretch of four consecutive games without one, while throwing eight interceptions during that time. The 36-year-old has struggled mightily outside of the three games played against the Buccaneers and Cowboys. In those other 10 contests, the veteran signal-caller has a 6:14 TD:INT while averaging 239 passing yards per game. The silver lining is that the Falcons take on the Raiders this week, a team that has yielded the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks on the season but have been even worse as of late, with 16 TD passes allowed in their last six games alone. It's possible that the Falcons rely on the run game when in a position to score, as they did last week with all three touchdowns coming via the rush. However, with Atlanta as four-point favorites in desperate need of a win to keep playoff hopes alive, in addition to Cousins possibly playing for his job and with an extra day to prepare, this could be the week to take a flier on the 4x Pro Bowler. It's a risky proposition though, as he projects as a low-end QB2 in Week 15 on Monday night.
Dec 14, 2024 2:30 PM EST
Despite their fourth straight loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14 that has dropped them out of the division lead in the NFC South, Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris doesn't plan to replace struggling quarterback Kirk Cousins with rookie Michael Penix Jr. "Everything is always discussed, but Kirk Cousins is our quarterback," Morris said. Cousins has thrown eight interceptions and no touchdown passes in his last four games. Up until 2024, he had never gone more than two straight games without a TD pass. In a homecoming game in Minnesota for Cousins, he threw for 344 yards on 23-for-37 passing but threw another two picks. He leads the NFL in interceptions with 15, the most he's thrown in a single season in his career. Although it's fair to expect fantasy managers to avoid Cousins with how bad he's been, he does have a get-right matchup in Week 15 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Dec 9, 2024 12:10 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has now gone four consecutive weeks without a touchdown pass after Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Vikings. The 36-year-old completed 23 of 37 passes for 344 yards and threw an additional two picks, now with a 0:8 TD:INT over this four-game stretch in which Atlanta has lost each game. The Falcons have gone from 6-3 and in first place in the division to 6-7 and a game behind Tampa Bay while falling out of even qualifying for a Wild Card spot. Calls for Michael Penix Jr. may grow louder, but in the postgame press conference, head coach Raheem Morris reaffirmed that Cousins will be the team's quarterback. If that remains true, the veteran will get the Raiders in Week 15, a team that had allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to QBs coming into the week and allowed Baker Mayfield to throw for almost 300 yards and three TDs on Sunday. Even so, with the prospect of being benched combined with continued poor play, Cousins looks like he'll be a risky, low-end QB play again in Week 15.
Dec 8, 2024 6:51 PM EST
Despite his poor play recently, Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris has made it clear that he is standing by quarterback Kirk Cousins as the starter, even after Cousins tossed four interceptions in the Week 13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Cousins has played poorly in recent weeks, but The Athletic's Dianna Russini has been told that no internal discussions of a QB switch to first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. have happened. Atlanta will continue to show faith in Cousins with the added motivation of facing his former team, the Minnesota Vikings, this weekend. Things can change quickly in the NFL, though, so if Cousins falls flat again in Week 14, perhaps Morris will change his tune about the QB situation heading into Week 15. The 36-year-old Cousins has fallen to low-end QB2 status after throwing six interceptions without a touchdown pass in the last three games.
Dec 7, 2024 12:08 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has gone without a touchdown pass in three consecutive games while throwing six interceptions during that stretch, four of which came just last week in a loss to the Chargers. Even though those are poor numbers any way you slice it, the silver lining is that all three games came against top 10 defenses in terms of QBR and fantasy points allowed. This week, the 36-year-old will face a Vikings defense that is middle-of-the-pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks and the most fantasy points to wide receivers. The other side of the coin is that the Vikings have the fourth-most sacks this season, so production won't come easy. The Falcons may want to limit how many times Cousins drops back in an attempt to limit turnovers, but Minnesota has yielded the fewest rush yards and rushing TDs in the NFL while allowing the second-lowest yards per carry. Factor in that Atlanta will be on the road, and it all points to another tough week for the veteran signal-caller. If it gets ugly, they may even have to turn to their first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. Hopefully managers have other options to choose from, even in a week with six teams on bye, as Cousins projects as a low-end QB2 in Week 14.
Dec 6, 2024 8:16 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins had a horrible showing in Sunday's narrow loss to the Chargers, throwing for 245 yards and four interceptions. The veteran hasn't tossed a touchdown in his last three appearances, so many are wondering if a quarterback change could be in the works. However, head coach Raheem Morris didn't entertain that idea while speaking to the media following the loss. "We have no issues with that man," said Morris regarding Cousins. "That guy has gotten us to the point where we are at 6-6, first place in the division, we still have everything in front of us despite what happened today." With Atlanta dropping three-straight games, Cousins will look to get it together in Week 14 versus the Vikings, his former team. With that in mind, anything can change moving ahead, so fantasy managers in multi-QB formats should consider grabbing Michael Penix Jr. off waivers, where available, in case the rookie takes over at some point.
Dec 1, 2024 5:29 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has flopped in his last two starts, posting a 0:2 TD:INT in those games, although they came against some fairly good pass defenses in New Orleans and Denver. Week 13 brings a matchup against a Chargers pass defense that is middle-of-the-road based on fantasy points allowed to QBs, but has allowed at least two TD passes to be thrown in each of the last three games. Granted, one was at the hands of Joe Burrow and the other was Lamar Jackson, but the third was Will Levis, so Cousins certainly has a shot to do it as well. Coming out of their bye week, the 36-year-old has had plenty of time to prepare and this contest is a home game which should work in his favor. Los Angeles is also coming off a Monday night game, so will have had a little less time to prepare than normal. All that being said, Cousins has looked fairly pedestrian outside of three big games, posting a 6:8 TD:INT in the eight games that were not against Tampa Bay and Dallas. The veteran also won't help managers out in the run game. The 13-year pro figures to be a mid-to-low-end QB2 this week.
Nov 30, 2024 5:08 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins was ineffective in a blowout road loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, completing 18 of 27 passes for 173 yards and no touchdowns while throwing one interception in the 38-6 loss. That's now two consecutive games without a touchdown pass for the 36-year-old. He's had three good games this season in which he's logged an 11:1 TD:INT, however, in the other eight games, the veteran has logged a 6:8 TD:INT. Week 12 brings a home matchup against a Chargers defense that had been tough against the pass prior to Sunday night, but Joe Burrow shredded them for 356 yards passing and three TDs without throwing an interception. Regardless, Cousins looks like a mid-range QB2 even with six teams on bye next week.
Nov 18, 2024 12:20 AM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (elbow, shoulder) was a full participant in Friday's practice after popping up on the injury report earlier in the week. Cousins is coming off of 300-yard passing game versus the Saints in Week 10, but the yardage total came without a single TD and he threw a pick. The only two games this season in which the veteran signal-caller was held without a TD pass both came against the Saints, but Week 11 brings a tough road matchup against the Broncos who have limited QBs to the 11th-fewest fantasy points this season. Denver has been more vulnerable in recent weeks, though, allowing three straight 220-plus yard passers and six touchdowns over the last three weeks, compared to just two 220-yard passers and six TDS over the first seven weeks. View the 36-year-old as a low-end QB2 this week as they could decide to ride Bijan Robinson and the run game instead in a contest that has the Falcons as two-point underdogs with just 44 expected total points.
Nov 15, 2024 8:29 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (elbow, shoulder) was listed as a full practice participant on Thursday after he opened the week with a limited session on Wednesday. Cousins' inclusion on the Week 11 injury report may have scared some fantasy managers, but it appears that he should be ready to go when Sunday rolls around in Denver to face the Broncos, barring a setback with his elbow and shoulder at practice on Friday. His two injuries are worth watching, though, and it could make things more difficult for Cousins this weekend against a top-five defense on the road. After coming up short against the division-rival New Orleans Saints in Week 10, Cousins heads into this week's difficult matchup as a low-end QB2 for fantasy purposes. Denver's D allows the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to signal-callers.
Nov 14, 2024 4:38 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (shoulder, elbow) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice, according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Raimondi noted that even though this is the first time Cousins has been on the injury report this season, "nothing seems to be concerning" regarding his availability for this weekend. In addition, seeing him participate in a limited capacity is already a promising sign. Last weekend in their loss to the New Orleans Saints, Cousins threw for 306 yards, his second-highest total of the season, but he could not find the end zone. Throughout his first season in Atlanta, the veteran QB has averaged 20.0 PPR points per game and should be viewed as a low-end QB1 in Week 11 when he faces a tough Denver Broncos defense.
Nov 13, 2024 4:39 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 308 yards on 23 of 38 passing, but failed to throw any touchdowns and tossed one interception in the 20-17 loss to the undermanned Saints. Bijan Robinson recorded both of the Falcon touchdowns on the ground, with many drives stalling and leading to four field goal attempts for kicker Younghoe Koo, only one of which he converted. There have been just two games this season in which Cousins was held without at least one TD pass, and both have come against the Saints. Now averaging 263 yards passing per game through the first ten weeks with a 17:8 TD:INT, the 36-year-old will look to get back on track next week, although it won't come easy against a strong Broncos pass defense. Look for him to be in the QB2 range in Week 11.
Nov 10, 2024 5:09 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has thrown for 498 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions over his last two games, but in Week 10 the 36-year-old will take on the Saints, a team who held him to 238 yards passing, zero touchdowns, and one interception back in Week 4. That contest was at home, this one will be on their divisional foe's turf. Be that as it may, this time around the Saints will be without Paulson Adebo (leg), who led the team in tackles in that Week 4 matchup, and without 4x Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore after he was traded to the Commanders this past week. If Drake London (hip) suits up, the Falcons will have a full complement of receivers. Working against Cousins is the fact that the Saints just allowed Carolina's Chuba Hubbard to run for 72 yards and two scores last week, so the run game may get a boost in this matchup. Nevertheless, the veteran signal caller projects as a back-end QB1 and is a viable bye week filler for Jordan Love and Geno Smith managers.
Nov 8, 2024 2:18 PM EST
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