Falcons' Michael Penix Jr.: I'm Always 'Ready,' But Kirk Cousins Will 'Bounce Back'

After a disastrous performance from Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, rookie backup Michael Penix Jr. has confidence the veteran will respond well.

"He's a vet," Penix said of Cousins, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi. "He's been in a lot of different situations, so I have no doubt that he's going to bounce back from this and he's going to be great this weekend and for the rest of the season."

Penix also made it known that he'll be ready to step up if head coach Raheem Morris calls his number.

"I have to be, because you never know when the opportunity [comes]," Penix said. "So, I always stay ready, but at the end of the day, like I said, it's not up to me. I just got to continue to be ready, continue to stay ready for that moment whenever that is."

Cousins tied a career-high with four interceptions in Sunday's 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He leads the league in interceptions with 13, just one away from tying the most picks he's had in a season.

Penix has completed three of his five pass attempts for 38 yards this season, appearing late in a pair of fourth-quarter blowouts.

Though he has struggled at times, Cousins has the fifth-most passing yards this season with 3,052 along with 17 touchdowns. Atlanta started the year 6-3 but has now lost three straight, but still sits atop the NFC South.

The Falcons will face Cousins' former team, the Minnesota Vikings, on Sunday. Morris said Cousins would still be under center for that matchup despite his recent struggles.

"That guy has carried us. That guy has got us to the point where we are 6-6 and in first place in the division," Morris said. "We've got everything in front of us despite what happened today. It's up to us to bounce back and find a way to win football games. There isn't a better man than [Cousins] to go do that for us."