By D. Orlando Ledbetter
Atlanta Journal-Structure
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — New Falcons beginning quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was out doing a little procuring Tuesday evening when he obtained the life-changing cellphone name.
He was at a well-liked big-box retailer with a budget scorching canine and big TV units.
“I received a scorching canine,” Penix mentioned Wednesday. “However I wasn’t hungry no extra.”
His days of holding the clipboard and listening to performs on Sundays had been over.
The Falcons known as to inform him that he could be the beginning quarterback for the remainder of the 2024 season. Penix will begin instead of Kirk Cousins for the Falcons (7-7) once they face the Giants (2-12) at 1 p.m. Sunday on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Falcons are within the race for the NFC South title, trailing Tampa Bay by one recreation with three to play. The Falcons are within the No. 9 spot within the NFC, within the hunt for one of many seven seeds within the NFC playoffs, and are alive within the wild-card race.
“Purchasing with my girlfriend,” Penix mentioned. “We had been at Costco, and we received the decision. They advised me that I used to be going to be the beginning quarterback for the remainder of the season. As you possibly can think about, there have been some nerves. It was some pleasure. Simply tremendous blessed to be on this place. Tremendous blessed to be on this staff for the chance.”
Cousins had struggled in the course of the previous 5 video games, by which the Falcons went 1-4 and misplaced their first-place lead. He tossed 9 interceptions and threw 1 landing cross throughout that stretch.
Cousins — who was anticipated to be launched by the Falcons — additionally leads the NFL with 16 interceptions and 13 fumbles. The Falcons misplaced solely two of the fumbles, however the 18 turnovers led to his benching.
“Go about each day with that belief and perception that every time it’s your time, it’s your time,” mentioned Penix, who starred at Washington and Indiana. “They known as final evening and mentioned it was my time.”
Penix was taken with the eighth total decide within the NFL draft this yr. A lot of the draft pundits thought it was a weird transfer, contemplating that the Falcons had simply signed Cousins to a four-year deal price as much as $180 million.
The Falcons’ plan was to have Penix develop whereas Cousins was main the staff. Penix has been working the scout staff — the opposition’s offense — in follow in opposition to the first-team protection. He ready for video games by watching Cousins run the performs.
“Simply the psychological reps, that was all the time there,” Penix mentioned. “I all the time guarantee that I’m ready. I’m making ready just like the starter and all the time being prepared. I didn’t know when my quantity was being known as. It may have been known as at any level. Simply me ensuring that I used to be prepared, that was the most important factor.”
He went by means of the walk-through follow Wednesday, and the staff ripped off 72 performs, in accordance with offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
Whereas working the scout staff, Penix was working principally with the practice-squad receivers. He has to spend a while on activity with the starters.
Broad receiver Drake London (919 yards) and Darnell Mooney (873) are closing in on 1,000-yard seasons. Ray-Ray McCloud (588) ranks third on the staff in receiving yards, adopted by tight finish Kyle Pitts (536) and working again Bijan Robinson (411).
“I already talked to a few of the receivers, and so they mentioned they’re able to get these reps. If we’ve to do it after follow to get extra, they’re prepared to remain,” Penix mentioned. “That’s the most important factor, simply guarantee that I discover time to get with these guys.”
Cousins known as Penix on Tuesday evening. Cousins mentioned Wednesday he needed to shoot the “elephant within the room.”
“He’s simply advised me that he’s in my nook, the identical manner I used to be for him when he was the starter,” Penix mentioned. “He mentioned that he was going to return into the constructing, proceed to remain constructive and do no matter he can to assist me, assist this staff win soccer video games.”
Penix mentioned he’s trying ahead to working out of the tunnel Sunday.
“I used to be mainly fascinated about simply main as much as it, if we’re working out of the tunnel, that might be my first time working out of the tunnel,” Penix mentioned. “I [not] going to lie, I’m going to be nervous working out of that tunnel.
“However every time I get out on that subject, it’s a complete totally different mentality. Flip the change and I’m able to go. I’m going to be prepared.”
Penix had two spectacular seasons after transferring from Indiana to Washington. He guided the Huskies to the Faculty Soccer Playoff title recreation within the 2023 season and gained the Maxwell Award because the nation’s prime participant.
Penix was part of a historic draft class. He was the fourth quarterback taken behind Caleb Williams (Bears, first total), Jayden Daniels (Commanders, second) and Drake Maye (Patriots, third). Additionally, J.J. McCarthy was taken tenth by the Vikings, and Bo Nix was chosen twelfth by the Broncos.
The final time that six quarterbacks had been chosen within the first spherical was in 1983 when Professional Soccer Corridor of Famers John Elway (first total), Jim Kelly (14th) and Dan Marino (twenty seventh) had been chosen. Todd Blackledge (seventh), Tony Eason (fifteenth) and Ken O’Brien (24) additionally had been taken within the first spherical that yr.
