The Atlanta Falcons opened the preseason with a 20-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Friday evening. While the game was competitive until the end, it was overshadowed by two potentially serious injuries to safety DeMarcco Hellams and linebacker Bralen Trice.
On the bright side, Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was solid in his preseason debut. The No. 8 pick in this year’s draft completed nine of 16 pass attempts for 104 yards, including a 41-yard completion to wide receiver Chris Blair.
Penix marched the team down the field following an interception by cornerback Kevin King and running back Carlos Washington capped off the drive with a fourth-down touchdown run. It wasn’t a perfect performance by the rookie, but he showcased his quick release and accuracy with a couple of nice passes in the first half.
“I was pretty pleased with Michael,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris told the sideline reporter before heading to the locker room. While Penix was solid on Friday night, Atlanta’s other two quarterbacks struggled.
Nathan Rourke and Taylor Heinicke combined for seven completions on 24 attempts for 48 total passing yards. Rourke deserves some credit for nearly leading the team to a game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
The Falcons also failed to run the ball with much consistency, finishing with just 81 yards on 31 attempts. Rookie Jase McClellan led the way with nine carries for 30 rushing yards.
Atlanta’s defense didn’t have a terrible day, however, the team gave up some big plays and failed to record a sack. Overall, it was an underwhelming game but Penix was a bright spot.
9/16 for 104 yards pic.twitter.com/PEhXq0hcJh
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 10, 2024
