MIAMI GARDENS, Florida – Atlanta rookie Michael Penix Jr. completed 9 of 16 passes for 104 yards in the Falcons’ 20-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Friday night in the first game of the preseason for both teams.
Penix, the former Washington star drafted eighth overall, started and played the first five drives, throwing a 41-yard pass down the sideline to receiver Chris Blair midway through the first quarter, which was his longest pass.
“It was fun to be out there competing with my brothers,” Penix said. “I’ve been playing the game since I was five years old. No nerves. No jitters. I was just ready to go.”
Penix directed two drives that ended in points – Younghoe Koo’s 39-yard field goal and Carlos Washington’s 1-yard touchdown run. Taylor Heinicke replaced Penix with 6:40 left in the second quarter.
“There are some things I definitely want to improve on,” Penix said. “I felt like I executed the offense as well as I could. I just try to score points whenever I’m out there.”
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receiver Tyreek Hill were among the veterans who did not play for Miami. Tagovailoa signed a four-year contract extension and Hill’s contract was restructured during training camp.
“Some of our defenders were playing out of position due to defensive issues,” said Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel. “So it was nice to see our guys win in front of the home fans.”
In addition to Penix’s first game, it was also the coaching debut of Raheem Morris of the Falcons.
“We had a chance to watch these guys play,” Morris said. “I saw a lot of positive things.”
Jason Sanders kicked field goals of 58 and 47 yards for the Dolphins, who took the lead for good with 14 straight points in the second quarter. Miami rookie running back Jaylen Wright had 10 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown.
Skylar Thompson’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Wilson Jr. tied the game at 10-10. Wright then ran into the box from 6 yards out after linebacker Isaiah Mack recovered Heinicke’s fumbled snap.
Instead of keeping the ball as a souvenir of his first NFL point, Wright threw it into the stands.
“It was exciting. This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Wright said.
Sanders and Koo converted field goals in the third quarter before Atlanta lost the ball twice inside Miami’s 10-yard line in the fourth quarter.
The Falcons plan to initially use Penix as a backup to experienced Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year contract in the offseason.
“I had a really good feeling about Michael,” Morris said. “It was fun to watch him go out there and make some of the passing plays. He led the offense and got them in and out of the huddle. A pretty good night for him.”
It is unclear if Cousins will play during the preseason as he recovers from an Achilles injury that sidelined him for the final nine games last season. Cousins has participated in Atlanta’s training camp, including the two joint practices with Miami at the Dolphins’ facility this week.
While Penix played, edge rusher Chop Robinson, the Dolphins’ first-round pick, was not in uniform.
INJURIES
Falcons: Safety DeMarcco Hellams was carted off the field early in the first quarter with a left leg injury. … Linebacker Bralen Trice injured his left leg.
Dolphins: Offensive tackle Kion Smith required attention from the training staff as he rested his left knee but left the field. … Linebacker Grayson Murphy did not return after suffering an apparent injury to his right leg.
Next
Falcons: Aug. 17 at Baltimore.
Dolphins: Host Washington on August 17.
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