There are no hard feelings between veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons and rookie Michael Penix Jr. after the team recently initiated a quarterback switch.

Penix expressed admiration for Cousins during a press conference, stating that he looks up to him and considers him capable of “doing no wrong,” as reported by ESPN’s Marc Raimondi.

The Falcons signed Cousins to a substantial four-year, $180 million deal in March, just before selecting Penix with the No. 8 overall draft pick a month later. Despite the unusual circumstances, it’s evident that the two quarterbacks maintain a positive rapport. Penix additionally shared insights on what he has learned from Cousins during their time together in Atlanta.

Cousins addressed reporters earlier in the day, mentioning his conversation with Penix following the benching, as noted by Reggie Chatman of 11Alive News.

Cousins described Penix as “great,” emphasizing that he is “ready to get to work and play well.” He also noted that the quarterback shift does not significantly affect their week-to-week preparations as they already collaborate closely.

This marks an important transition for Penix, who steps up as the leader of a 7-7 Falcons team that is just a game behind the 8-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South standings with three games remaining.

Penix shared how he learned about his new role as the starting quarterback while grocery shopping with his girlfriend at Costco.

Penix humorously added that he was in the middle of getting a hot dog when he found out he would be QB1, as reported by Mary Alex Anders of Fox 5 Sports.

Penix and the Falcons are set to take on the New York Giants at home on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.