Kirk Cousins is “highly likely” to start for the Falcons against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday with Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix recovering from a bone bruise to his left knee, ESPN reported on Saturday.
Cousins, 37, worked with the first-team offense this week while Penix was limited. Penix is listed on the injury report as questionable for the game.
“(Cousins has) played a lot of football in this league. It gives you a lot of comfort knowing that you have Kirk, a lot of confidence knowing that you have Kirk,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. “Obviously, it will be all based on Mike’s injury status and Mike’s injury status alone.”
Penix was hurt during Atlanta’s 20-10 road loss last Sunday night against the San Francisco 49ers. He played the entire game and completed 21 of 38 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown.
Penix, 25, has started all six games this season and completed 61% of his passes for 1,409 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also rushed for one TD.
Cousins has started 159 career games and thrown for 43,008 yards, 288 touchdowns and 126 interceptions. He lost the starting job to Penix late in 2024. Cousins was intercepted a career-worst 16 times last season, tying Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield for the most picks in the NFL.
Cousins completed 5 of 7 passes for 29 yards in his lone appearance of this season, a 30-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 3.
