Falcons’ Michael Penix Jr. solid in Part 1 of his tuneup for regular season
FLOWERY BRANCH — For Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the joint practices this week against the Titans will be his tuneup for the regular season.
Falcons coach Raheem Morris said that Penix will not play in the exhibition game against the Titans on Friday, but they will consider playing backup quarterback Kirk Cousins.
“I wouldn’t rule them out both completely,” Morris said Tuesday. “Mike for sure, Kirk we’ll talk about, but that’s probably likely the same prospect for next week.”
It was pointed out to Morris the Bengals played quarterback Joe Burrow for 15 snaps in their exhibition opener, while the Falcons are set to going to the regular season with Penix not playing in the exhibition season.
“They’ve changed this year because they’ve had a couple of slow starts,” Morris said. “I think (Bengals coach) Zac Taylor changed his philosophy based on that this year.”
The Bengals started 0-3, finished strong, but missed the playoffs. The Falcons started 6-2 before collapsing late as Cousins tried to play while injured.
So, the practices against the Titans are Penix’s tuneup for the season. They’ll practice again Wednesday.
He started strong Tuesday by hitting wide receiver Casey Washington and a deep pass for a touchdown.
In the second period of 11-on-11 play, Penix missed a short pass out to the right that was intended for Drake London, followed by a intermediate miss and another pass on a breaking route that was behind London. He was 1-for-4 in period 10.
Penix heated up the rest of the way as he completed 9 of 10 passes as the Falcons appeared to move the ball at will against the Titans.
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was impressed when Penix scrambled to avoid a sack and then found tight end Kyle Pitts for a completion.
“We let him get out of the pocket,” Simmons said. “He felt me coming from the backside B-gap. Him being able to run and throw on the run, things of that nature.”
Simmons won his share of battles and would have had at least two sacks if the teams were tackling to the ground.
“He’s got a lot of talent,” Simmons said. “He’s a good young quarterback. I watched him, of course, when he was at (the University of) Washington.”
The Titans didn’t scout Penix to get ready for the joint practices.
“I haven’t watched much tape of him, especially in the (exhibition games),” Simmons said, “and I don’t really play him, but (Tuesday) he showed a lot of him being able to get the ball out even under pressure. I think he’s got a bright future.”
Titans defensive tackle Timmy Horne, who was with the Falcons in 2022-23, said he was impressed, too.
“The kid has a strong arm,” Horne said. “Real good guy.”
Last season, the Falcons didn’t play Cousins in the exhibition games when he was the starter. Cousins, who was coming off an Achilles surgery, wanted to play to test things.
Penix, who was the backup, played 24 snaps in the opening exhibition game against the Dolphins on Aug. 9, 2024.
Quarterbacks Easton Stick and Emory Jones played in the exhibition opener Friday against the Lions.
The Falcons and the Titans practiced hard, and there weren’t any fights.
“It’s still football,” Simmons said. “Fights happen at practice. It’s all about how you line back up and play football. With these guys, there wasn’t really no extra stuff. We were just on both sides. Coach Raheem was doing a helluva job getting his guys back in the huddle. He was running out there on the field.
“At the end of the day, guys know what it is when you’re not there taking no cheap shots and things of that nature. That’s what it’s all about, getting good work.”
Simmons, who played at Mississippi State in the SEC, said he enjoyed working mostly against Falcons All-Pro guard Chris Lindstrom.
“He’s a guy that I have much respect for,” Simmons said. “We talked a lot of smack when I played against him two years ago. But you know going against him is great work. He’s an All-Pro guard for a reason.”
Simmons called their one-on-one matchups a draw.
“It was some good work in one-on-ones,” Simmons said. “I got him one time and he got me the next one. That’s what it’s about.”
Simmons moved around the defense for the Titans in the 11-on-11 action.
“Then you get in the team reps and being able to get some good reps against a guy like (that). … that’s what I appreciate the most about joint practices,” Simmons said. “You are going against All-Pro guys. I won’t face him in the season. But he is one of the best in the game for a reason. It’s great work going against him.”
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
