FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have a plan for quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s growth, and coach Raheem Morris mentioned that plan doesn’t embody placing the rookie in “too early.”
Falcons starter Kirk Cousins has struggled mightily with eight interceptions and no landing passes over the previous 4 weeks. He threw 4 interceptions in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13 and one other two in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings final week.
After as soon as holding a commanding division lead, Atlanta (6-7) has misplaced 4 straight and is now in second place within the NFC South. The state of affairs has brought about followers and pundits to name for Penix, the eighth general choose within the 2024 NFL draft, to get an opportunity to start out.
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Morris has maintained that Cousins is the starter, has earned the chance to proper the ship and is the person who offers the crew the very best probability to win. On Thursday, Morris additionally mentioned there are issues about not utilizing Penix in a state of affairs the place it may mess up his growth.
“I advised you proper from the start, he is our future,” Morris mentioned of Penix. “… And to have the ability to have the respect, to have the ability to have the arrogance, to have the ability to have the wherewithal to assist Kirk and all these items, too, it is an excellent studying lesson for him as properly. So, once you undergo all that course of, you may take a look at totally different organizations [that have] pulled the set off and put guys on the market too early and it is gone horrible, and I do not wish to be that man.”
Morris did not element the franchise’s plan for Penix, solely saying he was the long run and he’d get the prospect “when it is time.” And that point is not proper now whereas Atlanta nonetheless believes in Cousins turning issues round earlier than it turns into a misplaced season.
“For me, it is the final word encouragement and backing for my constructing and for my state of the union to go on the market and assist [Cousins],” Morris mentioned. “So, to say benching does not cross your thoughts, you’ve got at all times acquired to think about these issues should you really feel prefer it’s one thing that is … irreparable or regardless of the case could also be.
“However I do not really feel that manner. I really feel like [Cousins is] going to come back out of this factor and he’ll go on a run right here and get us to do the issues that we have to do.”
The Falcons go to the Las Vegas Raiders for “Monday Night time Soccer” this week, adopted by a house recreation in opposition to the New York Giants. The 2 opponents have a mixed 4 wins this season. So, if Atlanta and Cousins are going to make a renewed playoff push, time is of the essence.
“We’re primarily enjoying playoff-type soccer proper now,” Morris mentioned. “All these video games turn into must-wins, besides the one factor totally different proper now’s you do not go dwelling.”
