Michael Penix Jr. had just a few good performs and a few regrettable misses in his NFL preseason debut

In his NFL debut towards the Miami Dolphins on Friday night time, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. wasn’t actually auditioning for the right here and now. This was in regards to the future as a lot or greater than it was in regards to the current.

Penix, chosen eighth total within the 2024 NFL draft out of Washington after the Falcons had already signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million assured, wasn’t combating for a beginning spot, or for his place on the roster. Head coach Raheem Morris and his employees wished to see the place the Washington alum was in his growth. Penix is on the Aaron Rodgers/Jordan Love plan the place he’ll sit for some time – perhaps a number of years – earlier than he will get his full alternative to excel within the NFL.

Total, Penix was joyful along with his efficiency in Atlanta’s 20-13 loss, although there was at the least one throw he’d like again. He accomplished 9 of 16 passes for 104 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and a few meat left on the bone.

“I really feel like I did okay,” Penix stated after his entry into the NFL. “Some issues that undoubtedly… I would like it to get higher. I really feel like I executed the offense the very best that I may, and I undoubtedly had one mistake, one mistake. The bare eye or the followers – they wouldn’t discover it, however in our offense, I do know it.”

Penix was referring to a checkdown the place he seemed the flawed method; that will have been this 9-yard move to operating again Jase McClellan with 14:41 left within the second quarter. Penix was eyeing receiver Chris Blair on one 15-yard minimize route over the center of the sector when he might need been higher off going with receiver Casey Washington on the opposite 15-yard minimize path to the fitting boundary.

The play Morris stated after the sport that he would have favored again for his younger quarterback was the straightforward out path to rookie receiver Casey Washington with 7:39 left within the first quarter.

“I felt actually good about Michael,” Morris concluded. “He needs a type of throws again, that out that he threw on the sideline, however he was capable of undergo some progressions actually be capable to progress — we get a little bit pass-happy with him, clearly being your first-round quarterback, however it was enjoyable to see him go on the market and execute among the move performs and be capable to get among the stuff performed and actually lead the offense and get them out and in of the huddle. Just about — a fairly good night time for him, and I used to be fairly happy with what he was capable of do.”

Penix struggled greater than anyone would have favored on these exterior throws, particularly on a number of makes an attempt to Washington, who has grow to be an early Penix favourite. Washington, the sixth-round choose from Illinois, caught three passes on 9 targets for 27 yards, however there was much more simply out of his attain.

Washington caught my consideration earlier this yr as a giant, quick ball-winner, and I used to be shocked that he lasted so long as he did within the draft.

“You all the time wish to get an excellent analysis of the blokes you draft,” Morris stated about that connection. “Whenever you get an opportunity to get it to your first-round [pick] in Michael, and also you get an opportunity to judge Casey a little bit bit, you wish to give him some alternatives and get the ball out that method.”

One optimistic instance of Penix going by his progressions (as Morris famous) was this 16-yard completion to Washington with 7:45 left within the first quarter. The Falcons dialed up a Sean McVay staple – mirrored intermediate minimize routes with a entrance facet in-cut beneath. No shock there, as new Atlanta offensive coordinator Zac Robinson was a McVay assistant with the Los Angeles Rams from 2019-2023.

Penix first learn the frontside out-cut to tight finish Ross Dwelley, determined towards it, used a pump pretend to freeze linebacker Ezekiel Vandenburgh, and hit Washington on the bottom dig. Penix’s work with progressions didn’t all the time pan out, however he confirmed an understanding of extra than simply the easy stuff. That was an incredible Quarters-beater, and in an NFL the place Cowl-4 is extra of a factor than ever earlier than, having a quarterback who can execute it’s a plus.

Penix appreciates every little thing about Washington, although the on-field outcomes didn’t fairly play out the primary time round.

“Man, he’s a employee,” Penix stated of Washington after the sport. “He’s a man that desires to work each day he is available in. We constructed that belief. We constructed that belief by the offseason, simply persevering with to get work even on the off-days. He works extraordinarily arduous. Man, you must have seen his smile when he first touched the sector. He was in his joyful place. I ain’t seen no smile that massive. He was excited to be on the market. Man, he made performs at any time when the ball comes his method. For me, I’ve received to discover a solution to get it to him.”

Hopefully, that Penix/Washington tandem will repay in a clearer method within the Falcons’ second preseason sport this Saturday towards the Baltimore Ravens. Total, the Falcons ought to be inspired by two issues – Michael Penix’s means to deal with an NFL offense with some wild vertical throws that don’t have worrisome precedent, and the addition of Casey Washington to a roster already crammed with offensive weapons which have every kind of untapped potential.