Cousins shrugs off drafting of Penix, says he's ready to make it work for the Falcons

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Kirk Cousins shrugged off any hard feelings Tuesday over the Atlanta Falcons drafting Michael Penix Jr., insisting he's ready to compete and doesn't think there will be any issues in the quarterback room.

Cousins spoke after the two quarterbacks worked together during an offseason training session at the Falcons' suburban complex in Flowery Branch.

“There's always going to be competition in this league,” Cousins said. “You've got to go out and earn it. I control what I can control and also understand there’s a lot I don't control. I learned a long time ago you've got to focus on what you can control.”

Cousins was one of the biggest free-agent signings of the offseason, agreeing to a $180 million, four-year deal with the Falcons that includes $100 million in guaranteed money. He was viewed as the missing piece on a team that has endured six straight losing seasons since its most recent playoff appearance in 2017.

Then, in the most shocking decision of the draft, the Falcons selected Penix with the No. 8 overall selection, which clearly caught Cousins off guard.

He didn't exactly endorse the selection of Penix, dodging a question about whether he would've signed with the Falcons if he knew they were planning to draft another quarterback in the first round.

“I don't really deal in hypotheticals,” Cousins said. “We could go down that path a long time in a lot of ways. It just doesn’t do us any good. I'm excited for this opportunity. I think it's a real privilege to play quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. I'm trying to make good on the opportunity that's been given to me with the way I work each day and the way we play this fall.”

The Falcons have insisted that Cousins is their No. 1 quarterback for now, while Penix is being groomed for a future starting role. The 13-year veteran said he's committed to making a potentially uncomfortable situation work to everyone's benefit.

“The quarterback room is a working force for one another,” he said. “We're all in there working together to help each other. That dynamic has always been there and will always be there.”

Even though he's yet to play a game for the Falcons, Cousins already finds himself at the center of two potentially troubling issues.

In addition to a potential quarterback controversy, the Falcons also are being investigated by the league for possible tampering over comments made by the quarterback at his introductory news conference, when he talked of speaking with players and staff members in Atlanta before his deal was finalized.

Cousins turned back a couple of questions on the tampering probe, saying he didn't want to speak on it while the league was in the midst of its investigation, though he did indicate there was no wrongdoing in his eyes.

“The league is still kind of going through that, so I'll let them do it. But there’s not a whole lot there," Cousins said, adding later that “if I said anything at the press conference, it was so innocent.”

Cousins showed little signs of the torn right Achilles tendon that cut short his final season with the Minnesota Vikings. He said the injury is not 100% healed, but he was able to do everything he wanted during the workout and expects to be ready to go by the start of training camp.

“It's progressing well,” said Cousins, who is 6 1/2 months into a rehab period that was expected to take up to nine months. “There's still more to go get.”

As for his dealings with a high-profile backup, Cousins insisted this is nothing new in his football career.

He recalled signing out of high school with Michigan State, only to learn a short time later that the Spartans were also offering a scholarship to future NFL quarterback Nick Foles. After his college career, he was a fourth-round pick of Washington, which had already selected Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III at No. 2 overall.

“I learned pretty quickly as a freshman in college that you've got to compete,” Cousins said. “That's the way it's always been and the way it will always be. This is consistent with my football journey as opposed to the exception.”

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins runs drills during an NFL football mini training camp practice on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins runs drills during an NFL football mini training camp practice on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Kirk Cousins, center, and Michael Penix Jr., left, run drills during an NFL football mini training camp practice on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins runs drills during an NFL football mini training camp practice on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Kirk Cousins, right, and Michael Penix Jr., run drills during an NFL football mini training camp practice on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Kirk Cousins, left, and Michael Penix Jr., right, run drills during an NFL football mini training camp practice on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins runs drills during an NFL football mini training camp practice on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr., right, and Kirk Cousins, left, run drills during an NFL football mini training camp practice on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Cam Rising threw for 92 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game due to an injury to his throwing hand as No. 11 Utah beat Baylor 23-12 on Saturday.

Rising scrambled and released the ball just before being driven out of bounds and was shoved into the water coolers on the Baylor sideline with 1:55 left in the second quarter and went to the locker room for X-rays.

Rising returned to the sidelines in street clothes with the middle fingers of his right hand taped together.

The team did not provide additional information about the quarterback's injury and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said after the game only that Rising's injury is “not real serious.”

Backup quarterback Isaac Wilson led the Utes’ offense after halftime for a second straight game. Utah had only 95 yards in the second half with Wilson leading the offense.

“Certainly, when Cam left the game that was a downer for us,” Whittingham said. “But the world can’t stop turning when Cam exits a game. We got to keep playing, which we did, but we got to be productive, which we were not real productive on offense.”

Micah Bernard rushed for 118 yards to lead Utah (2-0).

Dequan Finn threw for 115 yards and a touchdown in his second start for Baylor (1-1). Finn struggled against Utah’s defense, losing a fumble and getting sacked three times.

“I think he got caught up and wanted to prove people wrong and wanted to make the play and do all these things,” Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. “And I think we’re still fighting that.”

Utah controlled play on both sides of the ball in the first half.

The Utes got on the board midway through the first quarter when Money Parks caught a short pass and turned it into a 28-yard reverse. Rising faked a handoff to Dijon Stanley before flipping the ball to Parks, who scored untouched.

Utah extended its lead to 14-0 on a 2-yard catch by Micah Bernard 20 seconds later. Connor O’ Toole forced Finn to fumble on a blindside hit and Karene Reid recovered the ball at the Baylor 3, setting up the Utes’ second touchdown.

Baylor had minus-10 yards on 10 plays in the first quarter.

Tao Johnson grabbed the ball on a blocked 50-yard field goal attempt and then raced 77 yards down the sideline to extend Utah’s lead to 23-0 with 5:21 left in the second quarter. Johnson was the first Utah player to score a touchdown off a blocked field goal since Jay Hill in 1999 against Wyoming.

It was also just the fifth touchdown off a blocked field goal in school history.

“I was debating on getting out of the way or catching it,” Johnson said. “And I was like, ‘Screw it, I’m gonna catch it.’ So I caught it, took off, and it was just green grass.”

THE TAKEAWAY

Baylor: The Bears had a nightmarish start on offense and never fully recovered. Baylor did not gain a first down until midway through the second quarter and totaled 48 yards by halftime.

Utah: Another dominant performance for the Utes came at a price. Rising suffered an apparent injury to his throwing hand and an extended absence could affect the trajectory of Utah’s season.

GETTING THE CALL

Wilson struggled to move the chains in his second career college game. The true freshman completed 4 of 9 passes for 30 yards. But he will start for Utah against in-state rival Utah State if Rising is unable to return to the lineup.

Whittingham expressed confidence in Wilson to get the job done if he ends up being the team's No. 1 quarterback for an indefinite period.

“He just needs to accrue reps,” Whittingham said. “He is taking steps forward. He’s our guy. He’s the no. 2 guy clearly right now. That’s where we’re at with Isaac.”

Wilson is eager to take a big step forward if he does get his first career start.

“I came into that situation out of nowhere but I got to be ready,” Wilson said. “I got to be there for my teammates. There’s a lot of plays I could have had back and we’re going to go into the film room and we’re going to evaluate that.”

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Utah should move into the top 10 in the next AP Poll on Sunday following the victory.

UP NEXT

Baylor: Hosts Air Force on Saturday.

Utah: At Utah State on Saturday.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (7) throws against Baylor in the first half during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (7) tcarries the ball; against Baylor in the first half during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising (7) runs past Baylor linebacker Keaton Thomas (11) in the first half during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)