Falcons' HC makes baffling decision on Michael Penix Jr.'s playing time

After sitting him in the second game, Raheem Morris had this to say on Michael Penix Jr...

Aug 9, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) calls a play at the line against the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter during preseason at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Falcons got to see rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for the first time last week when they took on the Miami Dolphins in the first week of the preseason. He went 9-of-16 for 104 yards in that game, including a deep ball on the money.

And if all goes to plan in Atlanta this season, you will not see him again until the preseason in 2025.

As the Falcons took on the Baltimore Ravens in their second preseason game, Penix Jr. did not even dress for the game. When asked about it after the game, Falcons' head coach Raheem Morris told the media that Penix Jr. will not play anymore this preseason.

Asked Raheem Morris what went into the decision to not play Michael Penix Jr. today. He said Penix showed the coaching staff enough in that first preseason game in Miami that they didn't feel the need to play him today.

— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) August 17, 2024

For a quarterback, who is already 24 years old on a team that signed their starter at least through the next two seasons, preseason reps are the only way for him to take live reps against players not wearing the same helmet as him. This makes the decision that Morris and the Falcons are making a baffling one.

Without an injury to Kirk Cousins, how else is Penix Jr. going to get live NFL reps? And now if Cousins does get injured, the Falcons have intentionally limited the live bullets that Penix can see before seeing his first regular season NFL action.

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