Panthers backup QB consoled Kirk Cousins after losing starting job to Michael Penix Jr.

Getting benched in the NFL is not an easy thing to accept, especially for a 13-year veteran like Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins. Nine months after signing a four-year, $180 million contract with Atlanta, Cousins lost his starting job to first-round pick Michael Penix Jr.

Season 2 of Netflix’s “Quarterback” series highlighted a conversation that took place between Cousins and Panthers backup Andy Dalton following the 2024 season finale. The Falcons quarterback had a lot on his mind when asked by Dalton how he was doing.

“Yeah man, it’s been three weeks and it’s felt like three months,” Cousins told Dalton. “I was just turning the ball over. I just couldn’t figure it out. For me, the turnovers have come in bunches in my career. Like in Washington, I got benched my third year and then one year, I was leading the league in picks halfway through the year but then I was able to flip it around and play a lot better after the bye, but same thing happened here.”

Cousins was referencing the 2020 season where he threw 11 interceptions in the first six weeks. However, he bounced back by throwing just three picks over the final 10 games of the year. However, we did not see that sort of turnaround for Cousins in Atlanta.

Since becoming a full-time starter in 2015, Cousins has thrown for more than 10 interceptions seven times. Last season, he passed for a career-high 16 interceptions in just 14 starts. Only once did Cousins get through a game without turning the ball over in a Falcons uniform.

During his last five games as the team’s starter, the 36-year-old threw nine interceptions and fumbled the football five times. For comparison, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield tied Cousins for the league lead in interceptions (16), but Mayfield threw for over 40 touchdowns as well.

Cousins passed for just 18 touchdowns, which was his lowest total from a season in which he started at least 10 games. The Falcons will likely keep the veteran quarterback around as a backup in 2025, assuming they can’t find a trade partner before the season begins.