Michael Penix was used in a designed rollout on 24.1% of his dropbacks in Week 16, the 8th-highest by a qualified passer in a game this season and a large increase from Kirk Cousins’ league-low 2.3% designed rollout rate in Weeks 1-15.

Little production in first NFL win

Penix completed 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards and an interception in Sunday's 34-7 win over the Giants. He added three rushing yards on four carries.

Analysis: Making his first NFL start, Penix mainly tried to minimize his mistakes as Bijan Robinson and the Falcons' defense each supplied two touchdowns in the rout. The rookie quarterback's longest completion went for only 22 yards, and while he has the arm strength to stretch the field, offensive coordinator Zac Robinson will likely limit Penix to short, high-percentage looks while Atlanta is still hunting for a playoff spot. The eighth overall pick in the 2024 Draft will face a tougher opponent in a…read more

Taking over as starting QB

Head coach Raheem Morris announced Tuesday that Penix will replace Kirk Cousins as the team's starting quarterback, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports. "After review we have made the decision Michael Penix will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward," Morris said in a statement. "This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday's game against the New York Giants."

Analysis: A change at quarterback in Atlanta had been brewing since Morris expressed frustration over Cousins' performance following Monday's 15-9 win over the Raiders. Cousins has struggled mightily over the Falcons' past five games, posting a 1:9 TD:INT while the team has gone 1-4. Penix has gotten into just two games this season, completing three of five passes for 38 yards after being drafted eighth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Washington product was always going to be the Falcons' quarterback…read more

Remains backup for Week 15

Head coach Raheem Morris said Monday that Penix will remain the backup to starting quarterback Kirk Cousins for Week 15, Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports. "Kirk is our quarterback. Kirk is still going to lead us," Morris said.

Analysis: Atlanta has dropped four straight games to fall out of the lead in the NFC South at 6-7, and Cousins' struggles have led to a discussion about a change under center. In those four losses, the veteran QB completed just 62.4 percent of his passes for 7.6 yards per attempt and a 0:8 TD:INT while also taking eight sacks. Cousins' track record and sizable contract may not be enough to save him if he has another poor showing against a reeling Raiders squad Monday. Penix, the eighth overall pick in…read more

QB change not imminent

Falcons coach Raheem Morris was emphatic that he would not swap in Penix for the struggling Kirk Cousins, Jay Glazer from Fox NFL Sunday reports.

Analysis: Peter Schrager earlier reported that Penix didn't take any snaps with the starting offense in practice this week, instead exclusively working with the scout team.

Throws first regular-season pass

Penix completed his only pass attempt for 14 yards during Sunday's 34-14 loss to the Seahawks.

Analysis: With the game out of hand, Penix made his NFL regular-season debut. He played seven offensive snaps and completed his only pass to fellow rookie Casey Washington. Despite Sunday's dud, Kirk Cousins has fully shaken off the early-season rust and revitalized Atlanta's offense, so Penix is relegated to backup duties for the foreseeable future.

Won't play in preseason finale

Penix is expected to be held out of Atlanta's final exhibition game against Jacksonville on Friday, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Penix also didn't play in the Falcons' second preseason contest versus Baltimore on Saturday. Head coach Raheem Morris explained that the team feels it "saw enough last week [in Atlanta's preseason opener] of him and the live stuff," adding that "[Penix] showed us last week enough that we don't have to play him in the preseason." The rookie QB completed nine of 16 passes for 104 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions against Miami in Atlanta's first game of the preseason and is slated to…read more

Held out of preseason loss

Coach Raheem Morris said Penix showed enough in his preseason debut last week that the Falcons didn't feel the need to play him against the Ravens on Saturday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Analysis: This was a surprising decision given that Penix is a first-round-pick and expected to ride the pine once the regular season starts, but it perhaps makes more sense in light of the Falcons holding out other highly regarded backups. Both Baltimore and Atlanta largely used Saturday's exhibition to evaluate players at the bottom of the roster or on the wrong side of the bubble, leaving Penix and many others to watch in street clothes. Penix completed nine of 16 passes for 104 yards the previous…read more

In street clothes

Penix appears unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason game at Baltimore, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: With the rookie in street clothes for warmups and Kirk Cousins not expected to play at all this preseason, the Falcons have Taylor Heinicke and John Paddock to take QB snaps Saturday afternoon. Penix completed nine of 16 passes for 104 yards last Friday in Atlanta's preseason opener against Miami.

Solid showing in pro debut

Penix started the Falcons' 20-13 preseason loss to the Dolphins on Friday night, completing nine of 16 passes for 104 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Analysis: The rookie eighth overall pick played on the Falcons' first five possessions, leading Atlanta to 10 points overall on the third and fourth drives of the contest. Penix displayed solid command of the offense during his time in the game and connected with Chris Blair on a 41-yard pass for the Falcons' biggest pass play of the night. The performance was certainly an encouraging one for a pro debut, and with Kirk Cousins not slated to play this preseason, Penix should be afforded ample playing time…read more