Browsing: QB1

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris benched quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in favor of Kirk Cousins in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers, but Morris has no plans of taking Penix’s starting role.

After the game, Morris told reporters “no” when asked if Cousins would compete for the starting job this week. He added that “the game was out of hand” and wanted to keep his starters “out of harm’s way,” which is why he pulled Penix.

Penix struggled in the 30-0 loss, completing 18 of his 36 passes for 172 yards with two interceptions. That performance came a week after he had just 135 passing yards against the Minnesota Vikings. The former No. 8 overall pick started off the year strong with 298 passing yards and a touchdown in Week 1, but he’s left much to be desired ever since.

“I’m never OK with not playing,” Penix told reporters. “At the end of the day, I listened to my head coach, and he did what he felt was best for the team and the decision that was made by him. So, I’ve got to respect it, and I’ve got to be there to support Kirk whenever he is out there. He does that for me.”

Cousins, who made his first appearance of the season, completed 5-of-7 passes for 29 yards.

Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million fully guaranteed ahead of the 2024 season, before the Falcons selected Penix. The veteran quarterback started last season but struggled tremendously, throwing for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He was benched for Penix in December.

Now Cousins serves as Penix’s backup after Atlanta kept him around this offseason, and Morris made it clear that Cousins will remain the backup quarterback moving forward.

As for Penix, the second-year quarterback will look to shake off a few bad games and prove he’s deserving of the starting gig.

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The Cleveland Browns are sticking with Joe Flacco under center.

Per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that, despite some early struggles, Flacco will remain the starter after a big win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Flacco has been shaky through the first three games of the season. The veteran threw for 290 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals, but also threw a pair of interceptions in the 17-16 loss. He had 199 yards, a touchdown and an interception against the Baltimore Ravens last week.

On Sunday, the Browns managed to take down a team that looks primed for a Super Bowl run, but Flacco wasn’t exactly the start of the show. He had just 142 yards on 21-of-26 passing and threw an interception.

The win can mostly be attributed to the defense, which limited Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love to just 183 passing yards and forced an interception.

While Flacco hasn’t done much to impress so far, Stefanski isn’t ready to turn the keys to the offense over to either of his rookies, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, or Kenny Pickett.

Flacco joined the Browns two seasons ago and willed them to the playoffs, and Cleveland is hoping Flacco can keep the team in the mix this time around as well.

If things continue to go poorly in Cleveland and the Browns find themselves out of the playoff race, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Stefanski turn things over to a younger quarterback, but for now, he wants the veteran under center.

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