The Falcons are calling an audible — just in time for a visit from the Giants.
Atlanta announced Tuesday that rookie Michael Penix Jr. will make his first start Sunday, taking over for a struggling Kirk Cousins, with head coach Raheem Morris calling the move a “football decision.”
“After review we have made the decision Michael Penix will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward,” Morris said in the statement. “This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.”
Cousins threw for just 112 yards — only 6.6 yards per attempt — as the Falcons escaped Las Vegas with a 15-9 win on Monday night. In the last five games, Cousins threw one touchdown and nine interceptions.
The Falcons shocked the NFL world by drafting Penix in the first round of the NFL draft — after the Giants passed on the Washington product to take Malik Nabers with the No. 6 overall pick — after signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal earlier in the offseason.
Morris, speaking Tuesday morning as he dodged questions about who would start Sunday, acknowledged that Cousins has lost some of his confidence amid his struggles.
“There are ways to get it back,” Morris told reporters. “That’s our job. That’s everybody’s job. We all need support at some point. We have to play better at that position.”
The silver lining for the 7-7 Falcons is that they are just one game behind the 8-6 Buccaneers for the top spot in the NFC South.
The Falcons hold the tie-breaker over the Bucs, as Atlanta swept the season series.
After Monday night’s game, Morris was clearly dissatisfied with Cousins’ play.
“He’s got to play better and obviously, you got to go back, you got to get to look at everything,” he told reporters. “But he wants to play better. He’s got to play better. We’ve got to find a way to get him to play better.”
Cousins was aware that his play must improve.
“I think the last few weeks I would say I need to play better,” the quarterback said. “Raheem says it, but it’s stating the obvious, and every week you kind of go through your process and you plan to go out there and play the very best you can.
“And so, this week will be no different.”
