One of the first major decisions for new Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski will be figuring out who starts at quarterback to open the 2026 season. For now, the choice appears to come down to Michael Penix Jr. entering his third season, or 15-year veteran Kirk Cousins. Falcons, Kirk Cousins’ Latest Contract Restructuring Doesn’t Bode Well for QBAt the end of the regular season, the Falcons reworked Cousins’ contract in a move that essentially set him up for a post-June 1 release. CBS Sports’ Joel Corry, a former agent, said the Falcons’ approach mirrors contract moves teams have made before ultimately moving on from players. When Klein asked what would test him most during his recovery — cutting or taking contact — Penix answered, “I won’t get hit until Week 1.”Klein followed up, surprised: “You’ll be ready Week 1?”“I’ll be ready,” Penix said.