The Atlanta Falcons have placed quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on injured reserve following his recent injury. In response, the team has named Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback and added Easton Stick to the active roster as backup. Kyle Trask has also joined the practice squad as an emergency third quarterback.
The moves involving Stick and Trask were announced ahead of the Falcons’ Week 12 matchup against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome.
Additionally, inside linebacker Divine Deablo was designated to return from injured reserve on Wednesday. Head coach Raheem Morris had indicated earlier in the week that this move was expected. With this designation, Deablo’s 21-day window to be activated or moved to season-ending injured reserve is now open.
“I expect to see him,” Morris said Wednesday. “I don’t want act like we’re going to activate him and not see him. I hope we’re going to see him unless something otherwise says something different.”
Stick, who signed with Atlanta in April, had been on the practice squad after final roster decisions were made. His most recent playing time came in 2023 with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he started four games and appeared in five overall, completing 111 of 174 passes for 1,129 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception—a completion rate of 63.8% and an average of 225.8 yards per game.
In addition to his action last year, Stick played briefly for the Chargers in 2020.
Despite limited practice reps while serving as a third-string quarterback until this week, Stick expressed readiness if called upon: “You just got to be able to go out there and play well on Sunday,” Stick said. “That’s part of it. But yeah, we’ll be comfortable. I think we all are. Every week, it can look a little bit different, and we’ll do the best we can preparing and be ready to go.”
Trask previously played as a backup for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2022-24 but was released before this season began.
With these roster changes in place, Atlanta held its first Week 12 practice on Wednesday ahead of their scheduled game against New Orleans on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Falcons currently hold a record of 3-7 while the Saints are at 2-8.
