The Atlanta Falcons are prepared to retain the services of Kirk Cousins as a backup quarterback, according to team general manager Terry Fontenot.
Cousins will thus be one of the most expensive reserve quarterbacks in NFL history, having signed a four-year, $180 million deal in March, $90 million of which is guaranteed over the first two seasons.
Cousins was benched in the 16th week of the season in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr, who is seen as the franchise’s quarterback of the future. Penix performed well in the final three weeks of the season, but the Falcons missed the playoffs with an 8-9 record.
Fontenot therefore indicated Thursday that the Falcons were ready to keep Cousins for another season as Penix’s backup.
-“Kirk is a good man and he’s been a great support to Mike, a great teammate, a great support to everyone in the organization, so we’re very confident moving forward with him as a backup,” Fontenot said at a press conference.
Cousins was effective through the first nine weeks of the season, helping Atlanta to a 6-3 record. He then experienced a significant drop in production in the next five games, including four consecutive losses.
Fontenot added that Cousins is healthy and his sharp drop in performance has nothing to do with his return from a torn Achilles tendon in 2023.
