Even after the Atlanta Falcons’ worst offensive output in four years and a temporary benching of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., head coach Raheem Morris maintains that there is no controversy under center.
During Atlanta’s 30-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday — the team’s first time being shut out since 2021 — Penix was replaced by veteran Kirk Cousins, who didn’t do much to help the Falcons crack the scoreboard. When asked if he’ll give the 37-year-old backup a chance to compete for the starting role, Morris gave an extremely rare one-word answer. “No.”
In major need of a reset, Morris is sticking with the 25-year-old, but the production will have to pick up soon.
“(Penix) was off,” Morris said. “I don’t want to take away from the fact that he didn’t play well. He has high standards for himself. He was definitely not his normal, happy, competitive self. There are definitely ways to get him going. There’s a lot of stress on a young quarterback and we’ll without a doubt do some things moving forward to get him ready to go.”
In the loss, Penix completed 18 of 36 passes for 172 yards and two interceptions before Cousins threw for 29 yards in garbage time.
Penix has a career record of 0-4 in starts when the team he’s playing scores more than seven points.
Morris and the Falcons are implementing a number of changes ahead of Atlanta’s Week 4 matchup with the Washington Commanders, beginning with the decision to move offensive coordinator Zac Robinson from the coaches box to the sideline.
“We’ll move Zac down to the field to be able to get cleaner communication to (Penix),” Morris added Monday. “We’ll be able to be more visual and see the quarterback and help Michael a little bit more. We’ll correct those things this week and get Zac closer.”
Later Monday, the Falcons dismissed wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard, who joined the staff in Atlanta when Morris was hired. Passing game coordinator T.J. Yates will take over Hilliard’s duties.
Morris also alluded to possibly inserting a third different kicker into the starting lineup amidst more special teams issues. The Falcons released longtime kicker Younghoe Koo following a missed 44-yarder in the season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Atlanta appeared to have found a viable replacement in John Parker Romo, who went 5-for-5 in last week’s win at Minnesota, but missed badly on two attempts against Carolina, forcing Morris to address the position again.
“We’ve got to bring competition in,” Morris said. “You have to do that until you get it right. We went 5-for-5 the week before and went 0-for-2 this week so you’ve got to bring in competition. That’s something we’re working diligently at.”
–Field Level Media
