Falcons Rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. Says He Is ‘Tremendous Blessed’ To Be taught Behind Starter Kirk Cousins

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga.: Michael Penix Jr. insists he’ll don’t have any issue adjusting to his position because the backup to new Atlanta Falcons beginning quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Earlier than taking the sector on Friday for rookie minicamp, Penix was greeted by Cousins on the group’s follow facility. Others have speculated there could possibly be potential for friction between Penix, the No. 8 total choose in final month’s NFL draft, and Cousins, who about one month earlier signed with Atlanta to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million assured.

“He mentioned ‘What’s up, man?’” mentioned Penix of Cousins. “He mentioned he was joyful to see me, joyful to have me right here. I simply instructed him I can’t wait to work with him.”

Added Penix: “We’re on the identical group. It’s not exhausting to strategy that relationship. We’ve received the identical objectives. That’s to win soccer video games. … It’s undoubtedly going to be nice. I’m tremendous blessed to have the ability to be proper right here on this place with a veteran in entrance of me, simply studying from him and going about my enterprise every day and simply looking for methods to enhance and get to the place he’s, a number of years within the league.”

The 2 quarterbacks be part of first-year coach Raheem Morris, who mentioned the first goal for his first rookie camp was to assist the newcomers turn out to be acclimated.

“I instructed the rookies collectively the easiest way of going about that is being your finest self … simply go on the market and be your self,” Morris mentioned. “Actually, not simply Penix however all of these guys.”

For Penix, the minicamp session open to reporters meant an introduction to media consideration hardly ever dedicated to Falcons rookies.

There was standing room just for Morris’s information convention on Friday earlier than Penix, whose choice by Atlanta was a significant shock, threw on the sector to different rookies. The choice by normal supervisor Terry Fontenot and Morris to draft Penix generated a lot second-guessing.

Morris and Fontenot have emphasised there isn’t a query Cousins, who shall be 36 this season and is recovering from an Achilles harm, is the starter. In addition they say they by no means wavered on the alternative to pick Penix, the gifted passer they instantly tagged as the longer term starter.

Others prompt the Falcons would have been higher served through the use of the first-round choose to deal with a direct want, such because the move rush. The Falcons haven’t made the playoffs or had a profitable season since 2017. Fontenot and Morris imagine the group is able to win this season and so they don’t count on to have one other alternative to pick a quarterback they worth as extremely as Penix.

That places the highlight on Penix.

“I really feel like at this degree within the NFL all people is within the highlight,” Penix mentioned. “You’ve received to show your self every day. … It’s one thing I’ve been dreaming of since I used to be a child. And now that I’m right here, I simply need to proceed to show myself every day and present not simply myself however the group that I’m right here to work and right here to assist this group win soccer video games any approach that I can.”

Penix, who shall be 24 as a rookie, performed for Washington and led FBS faculties with 4,903 passing yards and was third with 36 landing passes in 2023.

Carrying No. 9, Penix regarded snug throwing persistently correct passes, together with to broad receiver Casey Washington, a sixth-round choose from Illinois.

“Each time my time comes and every time my quantity known as, I’ve simply received to verify I’m prepared,” Penix mentioned. “I’m right here now. I can’t sit right here and be starstruck no extra. I’ve received to provide.”

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