The Atlanta Falcons have recently raised a lot of eyebrows with how they have handled the situation concerning quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
Firstly, it was very surprising that the Falcons selected Penix with a top-10 pick after signing Kirk Cousins to a deal in free agency. The decision to sign Cousins was for the Falcons to compete now, but instead of adding an impact player in the first round, they used the pick on Penix, who likely wouldn’t see any playing time.
While the decision to draft Penix might end up being a great move for the Falcons long term, it has taken a lot of criticism so far. What was puzzling recently was that the Falcons elected not to play Penix in their second preseason game.
In a recent article by Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports, he spoke about the poor decision the Falcons made by sitting Penix. Here’s what he had to say.
“Since Penix likely isn’t going to play this season, it was a bold thing by the Falcons to not play him in a preseason game where Penix would earn valuable snaps. Coach Raheem Morris claimed he saw enough from Penix in his quarter of action last week that Penix was worthy of sitting against another defense.
Not playing against a different defense doesn’t help Penix’s development, especially since the Falcons did not have a joint practice this week. The J.J. McCarthy season-ending injury probably freaked out the Falcons, but it’s still important for Penix to see live game reps.”
What exactly are the Falcons doing with Michael Penix Jr.?
The decision to draft Penix can certainly be defended, but the decision not to play him in the preseason with no injury makes little sense. Considering Cousins is coming off an Achillies injury last season, it seems logical that the Falcons would want Penix to get some reps in.
Penix had an excellent college career, especially with Washington, but getting more snaps against NFL competition would likely have been beneficial for his development. It seems as though Penix will be sitting out the preseason finale as well. Furthermore, it looks like it will just be one quarter of playing time for him.
If all goes right for the Falcons this season, Cousins will be starting every game and Penix will be sitting unless it’s junk time. It’s certainly possible that the injury to J.J. McCarthy might have raised some concern for the health of Michael Penix Jr. in the preseason, but that fear could also have hampered his development.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
