Falcons bench Cousins,

will start rookie QB Penix

ATLANTA >> The Atlanta Falcons are turning to rookie Michael Penix Jr. as their starting quarterback and benching veteran Kirk Cousins as they fight for their first playoff berth since 2017. Coach Raheem Morris announced the decision in a statement Tuesday night.

Morris calls it “a football decision” and says the team is focused on preparing to face the New York Giants on Sunday. The Falcons (7-7) ended a four-game losing streak with Monday night’s ugly 15-9 win at Las Vegas. Cousins passed for 112 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The 36-year-old was signed in the offseason for $100 million guaranteed.

Mahomes plans to play against Texans on Saturday

KANSAS CITY, Mo.>> Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is preparing to play against Houston on Saturday, unless his ailing ankle puts the two-time MVP in such a precarious position that he can’t protect himself or he “puts the football team in a bad position.”

Mahomes sustained a mild high-ankle sprain late in a 21-7 win in Cleveland on Sunday. He began to receive treatment on the plane ride home and spent more than 12 hours getting additional work on it at the practice facility Monday, even though most of the team had the day off.

Raiders DE Robinson suspended 3 games over substance-abuse violation

HENDERSON, Nev.>> The NFL suspended Las Vegas Raiders reserve defensive end Janarius Robinson on Tuesday for three games without pay for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. The suspension takes Robinson out for the rest of the season.

Robinson has played in 10 games and started one this season. He has five tackles and half a sack.

Indiana’s Cignetti named AP Coach of the Year

INDIANAPOLIS>> Curt Cignetti of Indiana has been named The Associated Press Coach of the Year in college football. Cignetti collected 30 of 45 votes.

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham was second with eight votes. Oregon coach Dan Lanning had five and SMU coach Rhett Lashlee received the other two votes.

Nadal says he considered taking mental health break

NEW YORK>> Rafael Nadal says in an essay posted online that he thought about taking a mental health break from tennis a few years ago. Nadal’s essay appeared in The Player’s Tribune on Tuesday, less than a month after the last match of the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s career.

He writes that there were times he had trouble controlling his breathing during matches and it was difficult to control his mind.

The 38-year-old Nadal headed into retirement after playing for Spain in the Davis Cup in November.

PGA Tour to hire CEO to run expanding business

The PGA Tour is hiring a CEO for the first time. Commissioner Jay Monahan has told his staff it’s part of a plan to help grow business opportunities for the tour.

This comes after a year in which Strategic Sports Group invested $1.5 billion into PGA Tour Enterprises with the possibility of doubling that. And the tour continues to negotiate with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf about becoming a minority investor.

Monahan remains as commissioner of the PGA Tour.

— The Associated Press