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Kirk Cousins Told Falcons HC He'd Be the Best NFL Backup After Benching for Penix Jr.

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins immediately warmed to his new role after head coach Raheem Morris named rookie Michael Penix Jr. as the team's starter.

Morris told The MMQB's Albert Breer that Cousins reached out to say he was focused on "being the best backup in the National Football League."

"For those guys to be able to go out there and work together, even through [Cousins's] tough time this week, I thought it was outstanding," Morris said. "All the way up until right before the game praying together."

The Athletic's Josh Kendall captured that brief moment, which ended with Cousins patting Penix on the back as they ran out of the tunnel:

Penix proceeded to go 18-of-27 for 202 yards and one interception in Atlanta's 34-7 win over the New York Giants.