FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Slipping on a No. 9 jersey is nothing new to Michael Penix Jr.
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback has donned that number since he was 4 years old. There’s photo proof.
“It’s always been No. 9 for me,” Penix said.
The choice is a nod to his uncle, who played football for the University of South Florida, and a thanks for the invitation to his first-ever collegiate game.
Penix carried No. 9 himself through high school, college and pros. The latest became official Friday, when Penix took to the practice field for the first day of the Falcons’ three-day rookie minicamp. Atlanta drafted Penix with the No. 8 overall pick only two weeks ago.
“This is something I’ve been dreaming of since I was a kid,” Penix said. “Now that I’m here, I want to continue to prove myself every day. Show not just myself but the team, I’m here. I’m here to work and here to help this team win football games anyway that I can.”
That includes being the backup.
The Falcons already had their starting quarterback for 2024 when they brought in Penix. Veteran Kirk Cousins signed a four-year $180 million contract back in March. Head coach Raheem Morris has never wavered in his claim that Cousins is QB1 of the present.
Penix, then, is the future.
As if Penix didn’t already have attention on him as a first-rounder, he has even more with any mention of potential field time.
“I feel like at this level – in the NFL – everybody is in the spotlight,” Penix said. “You got to prove yourself each and every day. That’s the beauty of it. That’s the beauty of this game. And that’s why it’s so rare for guys to make it. Like it’s the 1%. So, you want in the spotlight.
“For me, I’m just going to be myself each and every day. Not try to be anybody else. Just go out there and put in the work I’ve always done. The results will show.”
It’s too early for any actual results to show, but Penix got about an hour’s worth of work in Friday with quarterbacks coach T.J. Yates and his assistant, D.J. Williams. During the open-viewing period, Penix and fellow rookie passer John Paddock (an undrafted free agent) threw passes solely with their coaches and then also with the tight ends and wide receivers.
So far, Penix feels good about what he has learned. Though he knows there’s more ahead of him, especially when his sole goal is to improve.
“That’s what it’s about, being a student of…
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