Atlanta Falcons Set To Start Quarterback Kirk Cousins In Week 8
Just when you thought the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback drama couldn’t get any more theatrical, the football gods have decided to stir the pot. Kirk Cousins, the man with the $180 million contract who was unceremoniously benched last season, is “highly likely” to be back under center this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. You just can’t make this stuff up.
It feels like a script straight out of Hollywood, doesn’t it? The seasoned veteran, cast aside for the hotshot rookie, gets another chance at glory. All that’s missing is the dramatic training montage music. The plot twist? Starting Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is nursing a bone bruise in his left knee, an injury he picked up during last week’s loss to the 49ers. With Penix sidelined and listed as questionable, it’s Captain Kirk’s turn to steer the ship.
A Second Chance For Cousins
ESPN Sources: Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is “highly likely” to start Sunday’s game vs. the Dolphins as Michael Penix recovers from a bone bruise to his knee.
Penix was limited at practice all week and Cousins worked with the first-team offense, gearing up to start Sunday. pic.twitter.com/790BrBoTBe
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 25, 2025
Let’s be real, nobody saw this coming. After being benched in Week 16 of last season, Cousins was relegated to mop-up duty. His only appearance this year was a brief cameo in a blowout loss to the Panthers. Trade rumors swirled all offseason, with many assuming his time in Atlanta was borrowed at best. But here we are. The Falcons held onto their very expensive, very proven backup, and now it looks like a genius move. Or a desperate one. Time will tell.
Head Coach Raheem Morris is playing his cards close to the chest, calling Penix Jr. a “stud” and giving him every chance to play. But with Cousins taking the lion’s share of first-team reps this week, the writing is on the wall. And what a time for a comeback story. In a twist of fate only the NFL could provide, this expected start lands on the 10-year anniversary of Cousins’ iconic “You like that?!” moment. You really do like that, don’t you, Kirk?
What This Means For the Falcons
For a Falcons team sitting at a perfectly mediocre 3-3, this couldn’t come at a more critical juncture. Penix Jr., while showing flashes, hasn’t exactly set the league on fire, posting a QBR that has him chilling at 22nd in the league. Can Cousins, at 37, shake off the rust and provide the spark this offense needs? He’ll have a prime opportunity against a Miami Dolphins defense that’s been about as effective at stopping the run as a screen door on a submarine. Expect a heavy dose of Bijan Robinson to ease Cousins back into the fray.
So, grab your popcorn, folks. Is this the start of a legendary comeback tour for Cousins, or is he just keeping the seat warm until Penix Jr. is back on his feet? Either way, Sunday’s game just got a whole lot more interesting. The Atlanta Falcons soap opera is officially back on the air, and we’re all tuned in.
