The Falcons’ Kirk Cousins ​​is in no danger of being benched for rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. despite slipping recently

Ahead of Sunday’s game against his former club in Minnesota, Cousins ​​is in the middle of a major crisis. The veteran hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in his last three starts, the first time in his 13-year career that Kirko Chainz responded so icily. He also threw six picks during that span, nearly matching his total from the last nine weeks (7).

Cousins ​​is the first player with more than 100 pass attempts, zero pass TDs, at least six INTs and at least one pick-six over a three-game span since Brett Favre with the Packers in Weeks 14–16 of 2005. (Favre is usually a good company statistically, but not here.)

The Falcons QB’s 15 giveaways lead the NFL, while Atlanta has slipped to .500 and is tied with Tampa Bay atop the NFC South.

With five games left in the season, the Falcons still have several opportunities to escape with the division. Atlanta will face three contenders for the No. 1 pick in the draft in the last four weeks: the Raiders, Giants and Panthers.

But if Cousins ​​continues to struggle, Penix will continue to look like a more appetizing option under center.

The No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 draft sat behind Cousins ​​all season and barely saw the field, even in the preseason. Penix has played in two blowout games, completing three of five passes for 38 yards in 20 total snaps. Every completion by the southpaw led to first downs.

The 24-year-old Penix offers Atlanta something Cousins ​​doesn’t currently offer: a downfield threat. According to Next Gen Stats, the veteran is throwing 43% of his passes between 0 and 9 yards this season, the highest percentage of his career.

But the Falcons aren’t ready for a major move to the big leagues, at least it seems until next season, when Penix has a year under his belt and Cousins, then 37, will serve his final season with a guaranteed salary in Atlanta.

“Michael Penix really impressed,” Rapoport reported. “(The Falcons) have named him the quarterback of the future. This is just not now and they don’t believe this should be a discussion.”