NE Atlanta News

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – After winning the toss in their first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, the Falcons elected to receive the opening kickoff.

The new kickoff rules have been well documented, so after the game head coach Raheem Morris was asked whether or not the rule change had anything to do with the Falcons' decision to send the offense out first.

"Oh, not really, no."

"You know," Morris said, "really I was just excited about seeing Michael if I'm just being completely honest."

That's Michael Penix Jr., and Falcons faithful – and the league at large – got a first look at Atlanta's No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft when the team hit Hard Rock Stadium field Friday night.

Penix got the start at quarterback for the Falcons, staying in for five series through the first and second quarters before Taylor Heinicke came in halfway through the second quarter.

"(I had) no nerves, no jitters," Penix said of his preseason debut. "I was just ready to go."

Penix finished his outing going 9-of-16 through the air with 104 passing yards and a 56.3% completion rate. By comparison, fellow quarterbacks Heinicke and Nathan Rourke finished with a combined stat line of 7-of-24 through the air with 48 total passing yards. Penix's longest pass came in the Falcons' third series: a 41-yard catch-and-run by Chris Blair. Blair's fumble following a completion earlier ended the Falcons' second series quickly.

"I feel like I did OK," Penix said of his overall performance. "There are definitely some things that I want to get better."

While running off the field at halftime, Morris said he "felt really good" about Penix individually but added that the offensive operation was sloppy as a whole. Afterward, he elaborated.

"We got a little pass-happy with him, obviously being our first-round quarterback, but it was fun seeing him go out there and execute some of those pass plays and get some of that stuff done," Morris said. "... It was a pretty good night for him, and I was pleased by what he was able to do."

It was clear who Penix favored in Friday's pass game. Of his 16 total passing attempts, seven went to fellow rookie Casey Washington, Atlanta's Day 3 pick out of Illinois. However, only two were caught. Washington attributed most misses to himself while Penix felt he left some completions on the table too.

"There were a couple plays out there where Mike gave me a great ball, and I just gotta make that play, man," Washington said. "I just gotta find a way to get there and make that play... I gotta watch tape; I gotta digest it; and I gotta make that play."

Washington's role will be monitored as Rondale Moore went on injured reserve Thursday after suffering a knee injury during joint practices with Miami.

By Friday night it was evident there was potential between Penix and Washington despite imperfections. At this point Morris noted that's acceptable as evaluations are part of joint practices and preseason games.

This situation is common for new quarterback/wide receiver pairings adapting to new systems; growing pains are expected but vision remains visible or audible according to running back Carlos Washington.

"(Penix) is confident," Carlos Washington said. "He's a pro... He's going to be a guy for sure."