The Atlanta Falcons have seen enough from rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and don’t plan to play him again this preseason.
The No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft was among close to 40 players who were held out of the Falcons’ 13-12 preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. Taylor Heinicke and John Paddock split the reps at quarterback for Atlanta in its second exhibition game.
Head coach Raheem Morris told reporters after the game that Penix’s performance in the team’s preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins last week, as well as in practices afterward, led to the decision.
“It was all about that. Last week, we wanted to get him out there and get a feel for what he was in a live game, which we kind of already knew,” Morris said, according to team reporter Tori McElhaney. “We wanted to see him be able to answer questions, talk about it on the sideline, go out there and execute, make mistakes, and know what to do.”
He added, “We feel really good with where we’re at with Michael. Mike showed us, last week, enough that we don’t have to play him in the preseason.”
Atlanta is exercising plenty of caution with its investment in Penix. The Falcons’ selection of the young passer caught many off guard after the team signed Kirk Cousins to a lucrative free-agent contract in March. The team has been adamant that the former Washington star will sit and learn behind the four-time Pro Bowler to begin his NFL career.
Penix completed 9 of 16 passes for 104 yards in his preseason debut against Miami last week.
Atlanta recently lost multiple players to significant injuries during preseason action. Rookie linebacker Bralen Trice is set to miss the season after going down with a knee injury in last week’s outing against the Dolphins, while safety DeMarcco Hellams is out indefinitely after being carted off the field last week.
The Falcons are set to host the Jacksonville Jaguars in their third and final preseason contest on Aug. 23.
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