The Atlanta Falcons were starting to doubt Kirk Cousins after some bad starts, which nearly put his time in red and black in jeopardy. He has really turned a corner as of late, but his contract situation could pull him out of starting consideration if Michael Penix Jr. misses any time next season.
Penix is currently expected to miss the start of the 2026 season due to a partially torn ACL suffered back in Week 11 that ended his season. The Falcons know they'll need short-term insurance for the young signal-caller, but Cousins' $57.5 million 2026 cap hit means it's unlikely he's that player.