Kirk Cousins addresses Falcons benching him for Michael Penix Jr.

Kirk Cousins is no longer the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons due to his play over the last five weeks. While speaking to reporters on Wednesday afternoon, Cousins said he did not play to his standard, which is one of the reasons why he was benched for Michael Penix Jr.

“There’s a standard I have more myself and the team has for me,” Cousins said in his opening statement, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t playing up to that standard consistently enough. It is what it is. You roll with it and now you still get ready one play away kind of thing and support Mike (Penix) and just try to help our team be able to find a way these last three to get in the playoffs. …That’s my focus.”

Cousins has thrown just one touchdown and nine interceptions in the last five games. And for the 2024 season, the four-time Pro Bowl QB has thrown an NFL-leading 16 interceptions. Cousins tore his Achilles during the 2023 season, but he said the injury is not the reason for his mistakes.

“That’s more probably decision-making than anything,” Cousins explained. “That wouldn’t have anything to do with any physical limitations. I wouldn’t say so.”

Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. joined Falcons this offseason

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris announced Monday night that Penix would replace Cousins as the starter. Penix will make his NFL debut on Sunday when the Falcons take on the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“Any time you take a step down, a demotion, it’s not going to be met with great appreciation and all those things, but Kirk was a professional,” Morris said earlier on Wednesday. “He was a pro. He was a man. He was a great human,” Morris said. “… He handled it with class. I can’t say enough good things about who the man is, and how he is. Obviously, it comes with some disappointment when you lose your job.”

During the offseason, the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract. Not long after the signing, the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall. The plan was to have Cousins play all of 2024 and 2025, but his struggles led to Penix taking over, and it’s likely Cousins’ time in Atlanta has ended.