Kirk Cousins makes shock Atlanta Falcons decision as he prepares to spend next season as their back up

Kirk Cousins makes shock Atlanta Falcons decision as he prepares to spend next season as their back up

Kirk Cousins will reportedly refuse to show up for the Atlanta Falcons’ offseason activities as he prepares to spend next season behind Michael Penix Jr.

The Falcons chose to keep Cousins on their roster past last week’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅline. As a result, the quarterback’s $10million roster bonus that is due in 2026 became fully guaranteed.

That decision also granted the Falcons additional time as they weigh the 36-year-old Cousins’ future with the team.

Atlanta is all in on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as the face of the franchise.

But the decision has clearly frustrated Cousins, who will now opt out of the team’s spring workouts and practices.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said: ‘Cousins doesn’t plan on showing for the offseason program. He may show for mandatory minicamp to avoid taking the fines.’

Kirk Cousins will reportedly refuse to show up for the Atlanta Falcons ' offseason activities

Kirk Cousins will reportedly refuse to show up for the Atlanta Falcons ‘ offseason activities

Atlanta is all in on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as the face of the franchise moving forward

Atlanta is all in on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as the face of the franchise moving forward

In his return from a torn Achilles and debut season with the Falcons, Cousins said arm injuries were a detriment and led to him being benched in favor of Penix in December.

Cousins went to the bench after tossing one touchdown and nine interceptions in a five-game stretch that knocked the Falcons out of playoff position.

Atlanta selected Penix eighth overall in last April’s draft shortly after Cousins signed a four-year, $180m deal with the Falcons.

At last month’s NFL Combine, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said he was ‘disappointed’ with the way things ended for Cousins and Atlanta.

General manager Terry Fontenot added the move to Penix was entirely a ‘football decision’.

Teams are not expected to offer a draft pick for Cousins, 36, because of his onerous salary.

‘Michael Penix is our quarterback. We stood here last year and talked about looking for that guy,’ Morris said of whether Cousins was still competing to start. ‘We think we found him.’

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