Falcons’ Raheem Morris Explains Why He Didn’t Play Michael Penix Jr. In Preseason Week 2

In one of the most puzzling moves of the NFL preseason so far, the Atlanta Falcons opted not to play rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. during the team’s second preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. Instead, the team relied on Taylor Heinicke and John Paddock to handle all the reps in the 13-12 loss.

The Falcons have generally taken an unorthodox approach to the quarterback position this offseason. In need of a franchise quarterback since the departure of Matt Ryan in 2022, the Falcons signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal in March with $100 million guaranteed.

The team didn’t stop there though. Just over a month later, the Falcons selected Penix out of Washington with the No. 8 overall pick, a pick that would go down as the most surprising of the draft. The Falcons had just signed Cousins to a four-year deal, meaning that if all goes to plan, Penix would sit behind the veteran for at least two or three seasons.

With the Falcons intending to sit Penix, the primary way for the rookie to earn NFL snaps in a game is through the preseason, especially since Cousins is not playing in the preseason as he comes back from a torn Achilles.

Penix played for the Falcons in their first preseason game, going 9-16 for 104 yards against the Miami Dolphins. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris felt that his first preseason game, combined with the reps Penix has taken in practice, was enough for the 24-year-old to not have to play against the Ravens.

Read More: Atlanta Falcons Make Shocking Pick, Draft QB Michael Penix Jr. No. 8 Overall in 2024 NFL Draft

“You’ve seen the amount of reps that Michael’s been able to get without really taking away from our starter,” Morris told reporters on Monday, via The Associated Press. “He’s got a huge amount of reps versus our starting defense. And I feel really good about where he’s going and what he’s going to develop.”

The Falcons are also not expected to play Penix during their final preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday.

“I could play him a little bit more if I needed something else,” Morris said. “But I don’t feel that way. And I don’t think any of the people that I would talk to in that circle of trust would feel that way or we’d be playing him a little bit more.”

Outside of the fact that Penix is expected to sit for a significant period of time before becoming the starter, the decision is an outlier to how other teams have played their rookie quarterbacks throughout the preseason.

Four of the five other first-round quarterbacks in this year’s draft — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Bo Nix — each played in both preseason games. Only J.J. McCarthy did not play in the second game, but because he was previously ruled out for the season with a torn meniscus.