The Stars Have Aligned for Kirk Cousins
Just when the disappointment sank in for former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins that he wouldn’t start anywhere after no trade earlier this month, the veteran passer will indeed start for his current team, the Atlanta Falcons.
The stars have aligned for Kirk Cousins as circumstances around the veteran quarterback create a surprisingly favorable moment in his 2025 season storyline.
The Falcons’ QB1, Michael Penix Jr., suffered a probable season-ending injury last weekend, thrusting Cousins to the front of the line once again in Atlanta.
Cousins is back.
Kirk Cousins Returns to a QB1 Job Post
It’s at least one last hurrah for the ex-Viking.
It’s the Worst for Michael Penix Jr.
Penix Jr. will hit injured reserve, sidelining the second-year passer for four games, no matter what.
AtlantaFalcons.com‘s Terrin Waack wrote Monday, “The knee injury quarterback Michael Penix Jr. sustained in the Atlanta Falcons’ Week 11 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers will sideline him for at least four of the remaining seven games on the 2025 schedule. Penix left Sunday’s game in the third quarter, as the Falcons led 21-16.”
“He hurt his knee on a third-and-10 play from Atlanta’s own 22-yard line when tackled by Carolina safety Tre’von Moehrig after throwing an incomplete pass. Penix was slow to get up afterward. Once he did, athletic trainers walked him straight to the blue medical tent on the Falcons’ sideline. Backup quarterback Kirk Cousins finished out the remainder of the game, as the Falcons ultimately lost, 30-27.”
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi added, “Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is not expected to play again this season as a result of the knee injury he suffered during Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Panthers, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The belief is that Penix has some damage to his ACL, but he is going through further test testing to get more clarity, sources told Schefter.”
Atlanta is nearing mathematical elimination from the postseason, so even if Penix Jr. somehow rallied or beat the odds, why bring him back in a lost season?
Cousins Needs the Fountain of Youth
Cousins is 37. He has not played well since the early portion of 2024 — before Atlanta benched him for Penix Jr. down the stretch of the season.
He’s thrown for 252 passing yards this year on 52 attempts, completing 32 (61.5%) and featuring no touchdowns or interceptions. Per EPA+CPOE this season, 44 quarterbacks have at least 50 dropbacks to their name. Of those 44, Cousins ranks No. 42 (third-worst), only besting Dillon Gabriel and a Vikings quarterback that will not be mentioned in the context of this article. Yes, you can laugh now.
Therefore, Cousins must turn back the clock. Plain and simple.
Too Late Anyway?
Cousins does face one problem: his team is basically irrelevant.
Atlanta must go undefeated the rest of the way to maintain a puncher’s chance at the playoffs, and let’s face it, that’s not going to happen. Regarding the rest of the season, Cousins’ insertion into the lineup is largely meaningless. The Falcons almost certainly won’t nominate him as the QB1 for 2026, instead re-upping with Penix Jr. or pursuing another QB path during the offseason.
The takeaway? Cousins taking the scepter is probably quite irrelevant to Falcons’ fans.
Auditioning for 2026
Personally, however, Cousins does have one big opportunity to prove he still has the juice. A quarterback-needy team in 2026 may not take the plunge with Cousins as a primary QB1 strategy, but he will showcase his skills over the next two months to prove he could be one of the best QB2s in all of the land.
It’s also worth noting that the Vikings will need a top-notch QB2 in 2026, almost no matter what. In theory, Cousins could be auditioning for Minnesota’s QB2 job. Food for thought.
More from Raimondi on Cousins
Raimondi from ESPN also opined about Cousins taking over: “Cousins said the team is still firmly behind Morris as head coach despite the struggles. Since that 6-3 start in 2024, the Falcons are 5-13. The Falcons signed him to a four-year contract in 2024 worth $100 million guaranteed before drafting Penix at No. 8 overall just weeks later.”
“With Cousins as QB1, Atlanta started hot in 2024 at 6-3, including 4-0 in the division. Cousins set a franchise-record with 509 passing yards in a win over the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Falcons were expected to trade or release Cousins last offseason since they had Penix.”
The Falcons travel to New Orleans for a date with the Saints. Not the most daunting situation.
“Cousins preferred to be a starter elsewhere and campaigned for a release with owner Arthur Blank. But the Falcons said all along they were comfortable with bringing back Cousins as a backup, despite the considerable price tag. And here the Falcons are now in a worst-case scenario, but one they invested insurance in by keeping Cousins on the roster,” Raimondi added.
“Will the 37-year-old be able to lift Atlanta? It could be an audition for Cousins, who is likely to be released in the offseason.”
The Falcons’ offense ranks 18th in the NFL per DVOA.
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