As Kirk Cousins rehabs, Falcons rookie Michael Penix Jr. gets preseason spotlight

The compartmentalization of the excitement surrounding Falcons quarterbacks is simple enough: Kirk Cousins is the quarterback of the present, and rookie Michael Penix Jr. is, for an as-yet-undetermined time, the quarterback of the future.

Don't let the next three weeks confuse that, as Cousins sits out the preseason schedule while he continues to recover from a torn Achilles tendon suffered last season while he was in Minnesota. That means Penix will get the preseason spotlight, however much he plays, starting with Friday's game in Miami.

The delicate balance between the two, in football's most important position, is a key to Atlanta's new chemistry.

"I'm super-sensitive to all forms of succession planning," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said one week into training camp. "After 60-odd years of business, in any business, that's critical. And at the key position, the quarterback position in the NFL, that's very important."

Despite the potential Penix brings to the position, the sheer investment in Cousins — $180 million over four years, including $100 million guaranteed — means he is Atlanta's 2024 starter. And with Cousins just shy of turning 36, the goal is to keep that status as long as possible.

"Kirk Cousins is our franchise quarterback, is our starting quarterback, and he seems to be doing great from a medical standpoint," Blank said. "His attitude, his leadership, culturally, personally, with our players, with the coaching staff, has been nothing short of outstanding. So we couldn't be happier with that situation. 

"But, you know, I know age does kind of creep up. I can speak to myself personally on that a little bit. I know what that means."

Blank is 81, so he might not have the same patience and long-term focus as