Despite being benched, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan continues to be supportive and engaged with the team. Meanwhile, rookie Desmond Ridder prepares for his third start in a crucial game for Atlanta's playoff hopes.
Penix and Cousins spent time with a handful of Atlanta's young players and practice squad members, going through plays during what could be the final week of practice this season. To Penix, the 24-year-old rookie who's making his third start Sunday after replacing the benched 36-year-old Cousins before Week 16, such an example shows how much Cousins remains committed and mentally engaged despite his disappointing season.
'From my perspective, he's been great and been nothing but supportive,' Penix said during his press conference Wednesday. 'He always walks in here with a smile on his face into the building and he cheers up the team.Cousins, who was benched 14 games into a four-year contract with $90 million guaranteed in the first two seasons, endured a difficult five-game stretch before losing the starting job. The Falcons went from 6-3 and two games ahead in the NFC South to 7-7 and one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the division lead. During that span, Cousins threw just one touchdown and nine interceptions. He led the league with 16 interceptions at the time of his benching.'He just didn't play well,' Morris said bluntly Wednesday. 'We had this stretch where he didn't play well. Obviously, we tried to breathe confidence into that situation. Obviously tried to make us get it back, and then you couldn’t get it back and you’ve got to make the switch.' Penix is 37-for-62 passing for 425 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions across a pair of starts -- one a 34-7 victory over the New York Giants on Dec. 22 and the other a 30-24 loss in overtime to the Washington Commanders on Dec. 29. Morris admitted this week it's not ideal timing for Penix, from the Falcons' desperation in the playoff race to the lack of reps he had with the starting offense before his first start, but Atlanta had to scrap its original, long-view plan. And while Penix is playing long before the Falcons hoped when they drafted him N
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