Here’s the Falcons’ impact on Kirk Cousins

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Kirk Cousins ​​stood at the podium in the press room at the Atlanta Falcons’ facility Wednesday afternoon, about 24 hours after head coach Raheem Morris informed him he would no longer be the team’s starting quarterback.

Morris announced Tuesday that rookie Michael Penix Jr. will be the team’s No. 1 QB “moving forward.” Cousins ​​had thrown nine interceptions against just one touchdown pass in five games. The Falcons went 1-4 during that stretch, improved from first place in the NFC South to a 7-7 record and barely stayed in the playoff race.

Cousins, who threw 16 picks in the league, faced the media and was asked, among other things, whether he still considers himself a starter in the NFL.

“I haven’t forgotten how to play quarterback,” Cousins ​​said. “Of course losing the ball wasn’t what you want, but I didn’t forget how to play.”

Cousins, 36, likely won’t be Atlanta’s No. 1 again, although Penix hasn’t started a game yet and anything is possible. Penix, who the team selected No. 8 overall in the NFL draft in April, will get the ball Sunday against the New York Giants (1 p.m. ET, Fox).

For the remaining three weeks of the season, Cousins ​​said he will offer his support to Penix and the team. After that, things are very uncertain and the chances of the 13-year veteran returning to the Falcons as a backup seem slim.

Cousins, who has a no-trade clause, will have a say in his future, as will Atlanta’s front office. As is almost always the case, these decisions will be at least partly financially driven. Cousins ​​signed a four-year, $180 million contract last offseason, with about $100 million guaranteed.

The Falcons could cut Cousins. If they do so before the start of the 2025 league year (March 12), they would face $65 million in dead money, according to the Roster Management System, consisting of his fully guaranteed base salary of $27.5 million and $37 .5 million US dollars from the remaining shareholding. If they do so with an appointment after June 1, the dead money would be spread over the 2025 and 2026 seasons — $40 million in 2025 and $25 million in 2026.

A trade would be another option if Cousins ​​is given the green light. Cousins ​​played well earlier this season and could be attractive to teams that believe he will be better in 2025, two years after undergoing surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in his right thigh. He has a decade-plus track record as a premier quarterback, which is why Atlanta signed him to such a lucrative contract in March.

If the Falcons traded Cousins, they would be responsible for the remaining $37.5 million prorated, while his fully guaranteed base salary of $27.5 million would transfer to his new team. There’s also the possibility that Atlanta would have to eat up some of that $27.5 million in a deal.

Cousins ​​also has a $10 million roster bonus for 2026 that would be fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2025 league year.

Cousins ​​will receive his guaranteed sum – regardless of where he ends up – and chances are the Falcons will be dealing with how his contract impacts their salary cap for the foreseeable future.

Atlanta general manager Terry Fontenot has done a good job of pulling the franchise out of salary cap purgatory over the last three seasons. He now has to get creative as the team’s high-dollar signing isn’t working out as hoped.

As for Cousins, he worked out with the Falcons’ scout team in practice on Thursday and Morris said Cousins ​​told him he planned to return in the remaining three weeks (or longer if the Falcons make the playoffs come) to be the best No. 2 quarterback in the league).

What happens next seems completely uncertain.

“Right now it’s kind of day by day and you’re kind of always in this league,” Cousins ​​said, “and there are conversations in the offseason, but we’re not there yet.”