Michael Penix Jr. Commended By Falcons Fans in NFL Preseason Debut vs. Dolphins

Michael Penix Jr. wrapped up a solid preseason debut as the Atlanta Falcons faced off against the Miami Dolphins on Friday.

The former Washington quarterback started the contest and played until he was replaced by Taylor Heinicke in the second quarter. By the time he exited the game, the score was tied 10-10.

Penix finished with 104 yards and completed nine of his 16 pass attempts. He showed off his arm strength against Miami, as his longest throw of the day was a 41-yard completion to wide receiver Chris Blair.

It wasn't a perfect night for Penix, as he missed some intermediate throws. However, it's unrealistic to expect perfection from rookie quarterbacks in their preseason debuts and the 24-year-old still showed why the Falcons used the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft on him.

He also led Atlanta on multiple scoring drives, including a one-yard touchdown run by Carlos Washington before the end of the first quarter.

While fans acknowledged some of Penix's inconsistencies, they were pleased with his overall performance.

Kirk Cousins hasn't appeared in a preseason game since 2021, meaning that Penix should continue to receive a lot of playing time throughout the weeks leading up to the regular season. He'll look to build upon his inaugural performance during the Falcons' next game, a matchup with the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 17.