CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It took just three weeks for Atlanta Falcons fans to get another glimpse of Kirk Cousins in regular-season action.
The veteran quarterback replaced the struggling Michael Penix Jr. with 10:44 left in a game where the Falcons were down 27-0 to their NFC South division rivals. Cousins wasn't able to move the ball much in his first series, with Atlanta turning the ball over on downs.
Penix was 18-of-36 for 172 yards and two interceptions, including his first career pick-six.
Cousins was the Falcons' starting quarterback last season after signing a contract worth $100 million guaranteed in the 2024 offseason. The Falcons then selected Penix with the No. 8 overall pick in the draft.
Last season, Cousins led the Falcons to a 6-3 start before a disastrous stretch that started around midseason. Cousins was benched in Week 16, following a string of five games with nine interceptions and just one touchdown pass. Penix was named the starter moving forward and performed well in the team's final three games, despite the Falcons going 1-2 and missing the playoffs.
Many expected Cousins to be released or traded this past offseason, but the Falcons made it clear that they were comfortable keeping him around as a backup. A very expensive backup, at that. Cousins will make a guaranteed $27.5 million this season.
