Kirk Cousins confirmed as backup quarterback for Falcons

Kirk Cousins will stay with the Atlanta Falcons but will not participate in offseason activities. The team chose to keep him on the roster, which guarantees his $10 million bonus for 2026. Cousins is expected to be the backup quarterback next season, as Atlanta is focused on Michael Penix Jr. being their starter. This change has upset Cousins, leading him to skip the team's spring workouts. However, he may attend the mandatory minicamp to avoid fines. After returning from an Achilles injury, Cousins struggled last season. He threw one touchdown and nine interceptions in a five-game stretch, which caused him to lose his starting position to Penix. The Falcons had selected Penix in the first round of last year's draft. Head coach Raheem Morris expressed disappointment in how things ended for Cousins. General manager Terry Fontenot emphasized that the decision to move to Penix was based on football reasons. With Cousins' high salary, teams are not expected to trade for him at this time.