Atlanta Falcons set to make major quarterback change for Miami Dolphins clash

The Atlanta Falcons could be set to make a quarterback change for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, according to a report. 

The Falcons' starter Michael Penix Jr has been limited at practice throughout the week after suffering a bone bruise in his left knee during last weekend's clash against the San Francisco 49ers. 

Penix is now expected to be sidelined for Sunday's game as he continues to recover with the Falcons 'highly likely' to start Kirk Cousins in his place according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. 

The veteran signal caller worked with the first-team offense in training throughout the week to gear up for Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Dolphins. 

Penix came up limping late in the game last Sunday but did not exit the 20-10 defeat in San Francisco. 

Falcons coach Raheem Morris had remained optimistic about the 25-year-old playing this weekend but he admitted on Friday that Penix was questionable to play. 

In preparation of the possibility of starting, Cousins took a 'significant' number of reps this week, Morris said. 

Cousins lost the starting job to Penix, the Falcons' No. 8 overall draft pick in 2024, in Week 16 of last season. 

He had gotten the Falcons off to a 6-3 start in 2024 but slumped to a four-game losing stretch. 

Cousins is pocketing a staggering $27.5million this season to sit, despite his attempts to be traded in the summer. 

Cousins himself told the Falcons organization he would prefer to be a starter elsewhere and missed most of voluntary offseason workouts as a result. 

However, he returned to the team for minicamp in June and insisted that he had turned his focus to helping the Falcons, moving past discussion of a move, which he deemed an offseason conversation.  

Meanwhile, Penix has completed 119 of 195 passes (61 percent) for 1,409 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions through six games as starter this season.