The Atlanta Falcons are expected to start Kirk Cousins at quarterback in Week 8 vs. the Miami Dolphins, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports, while Michael Penix Jr. remains sidelined with a bone bruise in his knee. It would be the veteran signal-caller’s first start in more than 10 months since his benching.
Penix suffered the injury late in the Falcons’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7. Penix was able to finish the game, but he has been limited in practice throughout the week. Cousins has been taking the majority of first-team reps with Penix limited.
Falcons coach Raheem Morris told CBS Sports’ Melanie Collins that the team will not put Penix “in harm’s way” unless he is “100%” or “extremely close” to 100%. With Cousins likely getting the start, the Falcons could adjust their offensive approach to fit the veteran’s skillset while leaning on Bijan Robinson and the running game.
Cousins was benched in favor of Penix for the last three games of the 2024-25 season, and the only playing time he’s seen since then came in the Falcons’ Week 3 blowout of the Carolina Panthers. In mop-up duty, Cousins completed five of seven passes for 29 yards.
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Prior to his benching in 2024, Cousins completed 66.9% of his passes for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and a league-leading 16 interceptions. That was Cousins’ first season with the Falcons, and he lost the starting job just nine months after signing a four-year, $180 million contract in free agency.
Rumors grew over the offseason that Cousins could be traded to another quarterback-needy team, but that never came to fruition. That’s a plus for Atlanta in situations like this, because you won’t find a more proven or capable backup anywhere else in the NFL. Throughout his 14 seasons, Cousins has thrown for 43,008 yards, 288 touchdowns and 126 interceptions.
This weekend, Cousins and the Falcons offense should have no problem moving the ball against the Miami defense. Even if Cousins needs to shake off the rust, Atlanta should get whatever it wants on the ground with Robinson. The Dolphins are dead last in rush defense, allowing an average of 159.3 yards per game.
