Are Falcons close to making full-time Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr. move?

Even before Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris benched starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. during Week 3's 30-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers that dropped Atlanta to 1-2 on the season, some wondered if Penix could be a few poor performances away from losing the full-time QB1 gig to veteran backup Kirk Cousins. 

It sounds like the Falcons are hoping to avoid going down that road this fall. 

Will Atlanta Falcons have patience with Michael Penix Jr.?

"Penix should have a long runway for a team that doesn't want any part of a QB carousel, and a Week 3 blunder won't change that," NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN shared for an article published on Wednesday. "...Sometimes, the easiest way to help a quarterback is to go no-huddle to let him operate quickly and freely for some easy completions." 

Penix completed 18 of his 36 pass attempts for 172 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions before he was pulled from the Panthers game. One of those picks was returned to the house for a score after the ball left his hands for a pass that never should've been thrown in the first place.

According to Pro Football Reference, Penix heads into Week 4 ranked 29th in the NFL among qualified players with a 58.6 percent completion percentage and 28th with a 71.3 passer rating for the season. He failed to throw a touchdown pass over Atlanta's past two games. 

NFL coaching source shares worrisome take about Michael Penix Jr.

On the same day it was learned that the Falcons had fired wide receiver coach Ike Hilliard and decided to move offensive coordinator Zac Robinson from the coaching box to the sideline, Morris acknowledged that Penix "was off" against Carolina. Fowler expanded on Penix's issues throughout September. 

"As one NFL coaching source who has studied the Falcons put it, '[Penix] can throw it, he just can't see it right now,'" Fowler explained. "In other words, defenses are clouding the picture and confusing the young quarterback. Penix appeared to be playing more freely late last season, and he has the arm strength to utilize the entire field."

The Falcons understandably didn't want to make Penix a backup after only his sixth career NFL start. That said, Morris and Co. may need to have some uncomfortable conversations if the 2024 first-round draft pick produces a dud in this coming Sunday's home game versus the 2-1 Washington Commanders. As of Wednesday morning, ESPN BET had the Falcons as 1.5-point underdogs for that matchup.