Less than a full 24 hours after he was unceremoniously benched for a rookie, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins said that he would offer to help Michael Penix Jr. as best as he can. Cousins has been struggling in his transition from Minnesota to Atlanta this season - after signing a four-year, $180million contract with the Falcons.
![[After Cousins' struggles, Atlanta will be handing the reins over to rookie Michael Penix Jr.]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/02/93299773-14208305-image-a-118_1734575251076.jpg)
After a poor performance against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football, Falcons coach Raheem Morris pulled the plug on Cousins and will now start the rookie out of the University of Washington. Speaking to reporters after the decision was made, Cousins said he understood the choice being made and said he would offer help to Penix. He also added that he spoke to Penix after Morris benched him.
![[Cousins put up an awful performance on Monday Night Football against the Las Vegas Raiders]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/02/93258671-14203957-image-m-58_1734488565820.jpg)
'It's pro football, and there's a standard that I have for myself, that the team has for me, that unfortunately, I wasn't playing up to that standard consistently enough,' Cousins said Wednesday in his first comments since the change. 'And so, it is what it is, and you roll with it and now you still get ready -- 'one play away' kind of a thing -- and support Mike and just try to help our team be able to find a way to win these last three to get in the playoffs, and that's what it's all about.'.
![[Against a team he should've easily handled, he passed for 112 yards, a TD and an interception]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/02/93258665-14203957-image-a-59_1734488594092.jpg)
Kirk Cousins said that he spoke on the phone with his replacement after getting benched. After Cousins' struggles, Atlanta will be handing the reins over to rookie Michael Penix Jr. Cousins said that he spoke to Morris on the phone Tuesday night - where he was told that Penix would start down the stretch.
![[The decision to take Penix eighth overall, which was questioned at the time, seems to have paid off for Atlanta - as they look to make a playoff push with three games to go]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/18/02/93258245-14203957-image-a-56_1734488534414.jpg)
