The Atlanta Falcons faced a tough loss to the Baltimore Ravens, dropping to 0-2 in the preseason. While preseason records may not hold much weight, a controversial coaching decision regarding rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has sparked some debate.
Despite the absence of Kirk Cousins, the Falcons’ star free-agent acquisition, Penix did not see any playing time in the game against the Ravens. Head coach Raheem Morris explained that the coaching staff wanted to “mitigate” injury risks for the rookie after seeing enough from him in the previous week’s game against the Miami Dolphins.
The decision to keep Penix on the sidelines comes in the wake of the Minnesota Vikings announcing that J.J. McCarthy would undergo season-ending surgery. The Falcons’ move to draft Penix with a top-10 pick after signing Cousins to a long-term deal raised eyebrows across the league, with reports suggesting Cousins was not informed of the team’s draft plans.
As the Falcons navigate their quarterback situation, fans and analysts alike will be closely watching how the team handles the development of their young signal-caller. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
