On Tuesday night, Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris officially made the quarterback change fans have been waiting for. Rookie Michael Penix Jr. will take over for veteran Kirk Cousins starting in Week 16.
Cousins has struggled over the last five games and Morris felt it was time for a change. The Falcons head coach held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the decision to bench Cousins and the latest injury news.
“Obviously, anytime you take a step down, a demotion, or whatever the case may be, it’s not gonna be met with great appreciation and all those things, but Kirk was a professional,” said Morris. “He’s a pro. He’s a man. He’s a great human. He’s a great father. He’s a great football player. He’s done a lot of great things for us this year. He handled it with class.”
Morris expressed confidence in Penix taking over, saying the rookie has stayed ready each week. He also confirmed that Cousins would remain the No. 2 QB going forward.
“Michael’s been the No. 2, you know, one snap away all year,” said Morris. “He’s been grinding away, learning from Kirk, being around his coaches, being ready to go, knowing that every play could be the last snap for anybody.”
Watch Morris’ press conference live below:
Sunday’s game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Check back at 4 p.m. ET for the team’s first official injury report of Week 16.