Michael Penix Jr. won’t take the field Friday night, but his spotlight isn’t fading anytime soon. The Falcons are playing it smart by holding out their two biggest names at quarterback, Penix and veteran Kirk Cousins, for the preseason opener against the Detroit Lions at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Head coach Raheem Morris told reporters this week that the decision not to play either quarterback is "probably the most definitive" one the staff has made so far. While the full lineup is still in flux, the quarterback reps Friday will go to Easton Stick and Emory Jones.
For fans eager to see Penix in live action, it will have to wait. The former Washington star finished strong last season with three impressive starts and entered camp as the face of Atlanta's offense generating a lot of buzz and attention around the league from the Falcons decision to give him the keys. But with Cousins returning from injury and Penix adjusting to full-time starter expectations, the Falcons are prioritizing health and long-term readiness over early preseason snaps.
Morris hinted that this preseason will look much different from last year’s. With a younger roster and multiple position battles, especially on defense, more players will see extended reps. The team plans to evaluate heavily during Wednesday’s internal scrimmage to determine who will need game reps and who should be protected.
"We will get a good feel after the scrimmage on who needs what and what you can give somebody," Morris said. "Obviously, we have a young football team so there is going to be a lot more people playing than we had last year. You have some young guys who need to go out there and show some competitive things."
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The plan may frustrate some fans eager to see Penix build chemistry with the starters, but it signals just how much belief the franchise has in him. Every decision from here is about preparing the team for meaningful football in the regular season. They’ll need to be ready when they open against division rival Tampa Bay in Week 1.
Whether it is Penix, Cousins, or a rising name like Emory Jones making noise this preseason, Atlanta's path back to playoff relevance starts by protecting their biggest investments and finding out who can deliver when the lights turn on for real.