Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said Thursday that Cousins will head into the 2025 season as the No. 2 quarterback behind Michael Penix, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports. "Kirk is a great man and he's been great support for Mike, a great teammate, great support for everybody in the building, so we're very confident moving forward with him as the backup," Fontenot said. Shortly after the Falcons benched Cousins in favor of Penix in Week 16, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the expectation in league circles was that Atlanta would cut Cousins before March 17, when the 36-year-old quarterback is due a $10 million roster bonus. Fontenot pushed back on that report during his press conference Thursday, noting that Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal last March with the expectation that they would "get high-level quarterback play for two seasons." That didn't come to fruition, as Cousins completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns while committing 18 turnovers (16 interceptions, two lost fumbles) in 14 starts before Atlanta turned the offense over to the rookie Penix. While Fontenot acknowledged that Cousins didn't perform as well as anticipated, the GM reiterated that the Falcons are comfortable with him as a backup heading into the upcoming season, though that won't preclude the organization from trading him if the right deal emerges. Atlanta would almost certainly have to absorb some of the $27.5 million on Cousins' base salary for 2025 to facilitate any trade.
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passing yards
3508rushing yards
1456receiving yards
1271tackles
84interceptions
4Passing
name GP CMP ATT CMP% YDS YDS/G TD INT SACK SYL RTG M. Penix Jr.,QB56110558.1%775155.03341478.9D. Mooney,WR16010.0%00.0000039.6K. Cousins,QB1430345366.9%3,508250.618162820188.6Rushing
name GP CAR YDS AVG LNG YDS/G TD FUM LST FD D. London,WR171-3-3.03-0.20030M. Penix Jr.,QB57111.652.21201J. McClellan,RB213322.5816.00092K. Cousins,QB142300.0130.0013222T. Allgeier,RB171376444.72537.9301843B. Robinson,RB173041,4564.83785.61416682R. McCloud,WR1710797.9204.60423Receiving
name GP REC TGTS YDS AVG TD LNG YDS/G YAC FD K. Pitts,TE1747746021345235.4272.021D. London,WR171001581,2711393974.8327.067C. Woerner,TE167124670132.921.03K. Hodge,WR17712131191457.789.06R. Dwelley,TE171155050.34.00C. Blair,WR41217170174.30.01C. Washington,WR81214140141.811.01D. Mooney,WR16641069921654962.0275.048T. Allgeier,RB1713138870135.293.02B. Robinson,RB176172431712925.4531.020R. McCloud,WR1762876861116040.4335.029Defense
TacklesSacksInterceptionsFumblesname GP SOLO AST TOTAL SACK SCKYDS TFL PD INT TD FF FR FTD L. Carter, OLB13 21 8 29 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 D. Onyemata, DL17 23 22 45 3 15 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 D. Malone, OLB17 4 3 7 2 12 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 A. Terrell Jr., CB17 50 16 66 0 0 2 6 2 0 0 0 0 M. Hughes, CB15 51 15 66 0 0 4 6 0 0 0 0 0 J. Simmons, SAF16 36 26 62 0 0 2 7 2 0 0 0 0 D. Harris, DL9 4 7 11 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 R. Grant, SAF17 10 1 11 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 K. Kareem, OLB2 2 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 B. Dorlus, DT2 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D. London, WR17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N. Brooks, CB9 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 C. Woerner, TE16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Abernathy, SAF6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T. Andersen, LB7 25 19 44 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 10 12 12 24 1 6 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Penix Jr., QB5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A. Williams, RB17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 K. Hodge, WR17 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 R. Dwelley, TE17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C. Phillips III, CB16 27 8 35 0 0 3 5 1 0 2 1 0 K. Elliss, LB17 84 66 150 5 37 8 3 1 0 1 1 0 N. Landman, LB13 39 41 80 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 D. Alford, CB16 59 21 80 1 4 1 11 0 0 1 0 0 E. Goldman, DL17 7 9 16 1 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Bates III, SAF17 62 40 102 1 1 2 10 4 0 4 1 0 B. Pinion, P17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M. Judon, OLB17 25 16 41 5.5 43 7 5 1 0 0 0 0 A. Hamilton, CB11 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Z. Harrison, DL17 6 20 26 1 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 R. Orhorhoro, DT8 4 7 11 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Y. Koo, K14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Woods, LB5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 K. King, CB15 5 2 7 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 D. Dalman, OL9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C. Lindstrom, G17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 G. Jarrett, DL17 30 23 53 2.5 23 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 A. Ebiketie, OLB17 26 12 38 6 15 6 2 0 0 0 1 0 K. Street, DL13 9 6 15 1 7 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 T. Allgeier, RB17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T. Graham, DL10 6 6 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 B. Robinson, RB17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 R. McCloud, WR17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J. Bertrand, LB12 15 4 19 1 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Falcons Depth Chart
Falcons Injury Report
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said Thursday that Cousins will head into the 2025 season as the No. 2 quarterback behind Michael Penix, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports. "Kirk is a great man and he's been great support for Mike, a great teammate, great support for everybody in the building, so we're very confident moving forward with him as the backup," Fontenot said. Shortly after the Falcons benched Cousins in favor of Penix in Week 16, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the expectation in league circles was that Atlanta would cut Cousins before March 17, when the 36-year-old quarterback is due a $10 million roster bonus. Fontenot pushed back on that report during his press conference Thursday, noting that Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal last March with the expectation that they would "get high-level quarterback play for two seasons." That didn't come to fruition, as Cousins completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns while committing 18 turnovers (16 interceptions, two lost fumbles) in 14 starts before Atlanta turned the offense over to the rookie Penix. While Fontenot acknowledged that Cousins didn't perform as well as anticipated, the GM reiterated that the Falcons are comfortable with him as a backup heading into the upcoming season, though that won't preclude the organization from trading him if the right deal emerges. Atlanta would almost certainly have to absorb some of the $27.5 million on Cousins' base salary for 2025 to facilitate any trade.
In 10 games in 2024, Smith-Williams (lower leg) recorded 24 tackles (12 solo) including 1.0 sacks. Despite playing fewer games and fewer defensive snaps than in either season, Smith-Williams collected more tackles than he did in each of his last two campaigns. That he was more productive must have made it extra frustrating when he was knocked out of the last seven games of the year due to injuries. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent during the offseason.
In 17 games in 2024, Harrison recorded 26 tackles (six solo), including 1.0 sacks, along with two passes defensed. Despite playing one more game, Harrison actually played fewer total defensive snaps in 2024 (263) than he did in his rookie season in 2023 (323). At least part of that difference could be explained by Atlanta's shift from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defensive scheme under new defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake. If Lake retains the position, Harrison could be in line for a similar snap share in 2025.
In 13 games in 2024, Carter recorded 32 tackles (23 solo) and a forced fumble. Carter was forced to miss four straight games in the middle of the season after suffering a concussion, a big part of why he posted fewer defensive snaps, fewer tackles and fewer sacks than he did in each of his three seasons prior. However, even when he was available, he was stuck behind Matthew Judon and Arnold Ebiketie on the depth chart. Carter is set to become an unrestricted free agent during the offseason.
Phillips finished the 2024 season with 35 total tackles (27 solo), five passes defensed, including an interception, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery over 16 games. Phillips operated as a depth option behind A.J. Terrell and Mike Hughes in 2024, increasing his tackles total in year two in the NFL, while also snatching his first career interception. With Hughes heading into free agency this offseason, it's possible that Phillips could be thrust into a starting role in Atlanta's secondary in 2025.
Ebiketie finished the 2024 season with 38 total tackles (26 solo), including 6.0 sacks, while also adding two passes defensed and a fumble recovery across 17 games. Ebiketie was able to play in all 17 regular-season games with the Falcons again in 2024, setting a new career high with 38 takedowns during the year. The linebacker also secured the first fumble recovery of his three-year NFL career. Ebiketie was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and he'll be entering his final season under contract with Atlanta in 2025.
Judon finished the 2024 season with 41 total tackles (25 solo), including 5.5 sacks, while also adding five passes defensed, including an interception, over 17 games. Judon was traded to the Falcons in August after three seasons with the Patriots, ultimately appearing in all 17 contests with Atlanta. The linebacker was unable to replicate his production from his time in New England though, securing just 5.5 sacks with the Falcons after compiling 32.0 sacks over 38 games with the Patriots. However, Judon did snatch his first career interception in Week 16 versus the Giants, returning it for a touchdown. The 32-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and he'll likely have many suitors interested in signing him.
Onyemata finished the 2024 season with 45 total tackles (23 solo), including 3.0 sacks, while also adding a pass defensed over 17 games. Onyemata was able to appear in all 17 of Atlanta's games this season, reaching 45 takedowns, which is his second-highest total in nine NFL campaigns. The nose tackle remains under contract with the Falcons for one more year and he'll likely return to his starting role with the team in 2025.