Penix’s Knee Injury Makes Cousins the Falcons’ Starting Quarterback Again

‘When you’re out for a while and come back, you understand it is a privilege,’ said Cousins, who signed for $180 million in 2024.

Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins warms up before a game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 5, 2025. Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Kirk Cousins gets another chance with his $180 million contract in tow.

The Atlanta Falcons veteran quarterback will return as the starter in Week 12 after the previous starter, Michael Penix Jr., sustained an ACL tear in his left knee that will require season-ending surgery.

Atlanta (3–7) placed the second-year quarterback on injured reserve on Monday and made his status official on Wednesday. Penix, a first-round draft pick from Washington in 2024, took over for Cousins late in the 2024 season and became the starter for 2025.

“I never really took it for granted, but certainly when you’re out for a while and come back, you understand it is a privilege,” Cousins told reporters on Wednesday.

Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in 2024 after his stellar career with the Minnesota Vikings and then-Washington Redskins. However, the Falcons got everyone’s attention with the selection of Penix in the draft that year.

“Wanted to just acknowledge how tough the injury is for Michael,” Cousins said. “My heart breaks for him. He’s someone who has handled adversity so well through his football journey, and unfortunately, he’s having to do it again.”

Penix sustained two ACL injuries in college at Indiana before he transferred to Washington in 2022. With the Huskies, he completed 65.4 percent of his passes for 9,544 yards and 67 touchdowns versus 19 picks. Atlanta took the risk on him despite his injury history, and he now faces his third ACL tear, another major hurdle for him to overcome.

“I’m very confident he has a lot of good football ahead of him,” Cousins continued. ”Probably more good football ahead of him than behind him, for sure. So he has a lot to look forward to, but unfortunately, he’s just going to have to be patient with it. But, tough deal, and we'll be supporting him as he goes through his rehab process.”

Penix sustained the knee injury on Sunday during a 30–27 loss to the Carolina Panthers, and it was the second time he injured that knee in 2025. He also missed an Oct. 26 game against the Miami Dolphins due to a bone bruise.

Penix had a solid second season with a 60.1 percent completion rate for 1,982 yards and nine touchdowns versus three picks. In his final game action of 2025, he went 13 for 16 for 175 yards.

With Penix sidelined, the Falcons turning to Cousins seems natural due to his big contract and his being the starter in 2024 and for one game in 2025. In  his lone start this season, Cousins completed 67.7 percent of his passes for 173 yards in the loss to the Dolphins. Atlanta also has the options of backup Easton Stick and practice squad quarterback Kyle Trask, both of whom the Falcons signed this year.

“We’ve got to find a way to get a win because he’s capable of doing it and he’s done it in the past,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris told reporters on Wednesday.

Cousins led the Falcons to six victories in nine games last season, and he has enjoyed .500 or winning records in all but two seasons since 2015, when he became a regular starter. He completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns versus a career-worst 16 interceptions last season.

Cousins won’t have star wide receiver Drake London due to a knee injury, so he'll need big games from running back Bijan Robinson and tight end Kyle Pitts. With seven losses and slim playoff hopes, the Falcons have no room for error.

“That’s something I’ve learned, is to just say, ‘Look, we’ve got to enjoy this. Regardless of outcomes, we’ve got to enjoy this, enjoy the challenge, enjoy the process of it. And then let the chips fall where they may,’” Cousins said.