Latest news with #Falcons
Washington Post
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Penix brings more confidence into 1st full season as Falcons starter following 3-game 2024 audition
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons may be better positioned for a winning season with second-year coach Raheem Morris because the offense will be led by a quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. , who won't feel like a first-year starter. Penix said after Thursday's opening practice of training camp he feels more confident entering his second season because he was given his first three starts to close the 2024 season after Kirk Cousins was benched. 'Yeah, it's very important,' Penix said. 'Just knowing, just being able to go out there and get those games with full-speed reps. It instills confidence, knowing I can go out there and do the same thing that you saw in college and all my life. So, you know, just I would say biggest thing is confidence.' The Falcons were 1-2 with Penix as the starter to finish 8-9 for their seventh consecutive losing season. Though the switch to the rookie didn't produce a playoff berth, Penix said the experience was important for his 2025 outlook and his chemistry with the offense. 'So Week 1 this year won't be the first time I'm on the field with the starters in a game-time situation,' Penix said. 'I feel like that was good as well. So the guys around me as well know what they're going to get out of me.' Penix spoke with confidence when he was asked about the potential for an offense that returns running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts and an experienced offensive line. 'We should be the best in the league with the guys we've got around us,' Penix said. 'We should be unstoppable. So that's that's our goal. We want to be No. 1 in all categories.' Penix spent extra time throwing to Pitts and London this offseason and had Pitts on his mind when he spoke with reporters Thursday. 'You see we got KP the ball today,' Penix said to open the interview session. 'There's going to be a lot of that.' Penix has the confidence of his teammates as the new leader of the offense. 'He's just that guy and he goes out there and he does the same thing every day and that's work hard,' London said, adding Penix 'has a cannon' as a passer. Cousins returns in a backup role after disclosing on the Netflix docuseries 'Quarterback' that he played through pain in his right arm in the second half of the season, in part to avoid losing his job to Penix. Cousins threw eight interceptions with no touchdowns in a stretch of four straight losses following a 6-3 start and insisted through the streak he was healthy. Morris said Thursday the comment by Cousins in the Netflix show was 'kind of old news' and added 'we addressed that when it was happening. ... Nothing was a shocker.' Cousins, 36, signed a four-year, $180 million contract last March that included $100 million guaranteed. General manager Terry Fontenot has said the team is comfortable with Cousins as the backup to Penix. Morris said in the offseason 'we won't hold him back if the opportunity presents himself' to be traded to a team looking for a starter. Morris said 'it feels more settling, more at ease' as he begins his second season as coach. 'I think it feels even more familiar than it had felt before,' he said. 'Being back the second time, being back with the same people ... I'll come back with the entire offensive staff coming back.' Morris said all players reported on Wednesday and all are on schedule to be available for the season. Some players, including linebacker Troy Andersen (knee), won't be exposed to all contact at the start of camp. Andersen was placed on the physically unable to perform list. Also, inside linebacker Malik Verdon, defensive lineman LaCale London and defensive back Cobee Bryant were placed on the non-football injury/illness list and defensive back Kevin King was released. The team's first practice in pads will be on Tuesday. Right tackle Kaleb McGary showed off a new short haircut and said he is 'all good' after having bone spurs removed from his ankle in an arthroscopic procedure. Fans were invited to the opening practice, producing a long line at the gate surrounding the practice facility an hour before the session. Morris said he is 'really fired up about this team, really fired up about this organization, really fired up about the fan base.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michael Penix Jr. believes Falcons offense 'should be unstoppable,' emphasizes getting ball to Kyle Pitts
After the first practice of Atlanta Falcons training camp, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. delivered a message before fielding his first question. "See we got KP the ball today," Penix said unprompted, referencing the involvement of tight end Kyle Pitts in the offense Thursday. Penix smirked, then added: "There's gonna be a lot of that." Pitts is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The highest-drafted tight end in NFL history, Pitts hasn't lived up to the perhaps fantastical expectations he faced when he was drafted No. 4 overall in 2021. As a rookie, the former Florida star recorded the third-most receiving yards (1,026) of any tight end in the league that season. But he found the end zone only once. In each of the three seasons since, Pitts hasn't even come close to returning to the 1,000-yard receiving mark. Plus, he's averaged just 74.3 targets per season in that span, finally reaching 10 career receiving touchdowns in 2024. Pitts has been underutilized in the Falcons' offense, particularly over the past three years. Penix indicated that won't happen again in 2025. Entering his first training camp as Altanta's QB1, the now-second-year signal-caller has big plans for a unit coordinated by Zac Robinson that's stacked with a deck of intriguing playmakers. Pitts is one of them. Running back Bijan Robinson, who recorded the NFL's third-most rushing yards last season but was similarly underused as a rookie in 2023, is another. Not only did Penix spend extra time throwing to Pitts this offseason, but he also did the same with wide receiver Drake London, who is coming off a 100-reception, 1,271-yard and 9-touchdown campaign. 'We should be the best in the league with the guys we've got around us,' a confident Penix said, per The Associated Press. 'We should be unstoppable. So that's that's our goal. We want to be No. 1 in all categories.' In addition to London, the Falcons' wide receiving corps includes a shifty Darnell Mooney and a slippery Ray-Ray McCloud III. London ranked second in the league with 22 contested catches in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus, which had McCloud down for the most yards after the catch (342) of any Falcons wideout last season. As for Mooney, his 992 receiving yards were his most in a single season since 2021. Mooney did, however, leave Thursday's practice after diving for a deep ball and taking a hard fall, according to multiple reports. Still, the potential is clearly there for the kind of prolific offensive firepower that Penix surgically facilitated during his final season at Washington, where he became a Heisman Trophy finalist and national runner-up. Penix backed up then-newly-signed Kirk Cousins last season after the Falcons surprisingly drafted him No. 8 overall. Cousins was ultimately benched after struggling in the second half of the season while battling pain in his right arm. Penix started the final three games. Although his Falcons went 1-2 and missed the playoffs at 8-9, he showed enough promise to earn the opportunity to start full-time this season. Those games were critical to Penix's development. 'Yeah, it's very important,' Penix said Thursday, via the AP. 'Just knowing, just being able to go out there and get those games with full-speed reps — it instills confidence, knowing I can go out there and do the same thing that you saw in college and all my life. "So, you know, just I would say biggest thing is confidence." Penix signaled plenty of that the first day of Falcons training camp.
New York Times
6 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Falcons training camp: Kyle Pitts ignores ‘rat poison,' Michael Penix Jr. expects big things
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — It took one practice of the Atlanta Falcons' 2025 season for the Kyle Pitts Sr. storyline to bubble back up to the surface. The fifth-year tight end was quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s favorite target in a brief session of 11-on-11 work to start training camp on Thursday morning, and the second-year quarterback wanted to make sure everybody noticed. Advertisement 'See we got KP the ball a lot today?' Penix said as he prepared to talk to the media after the practice. 'Gonna be a lot of that.' That's what every Falcons fan keeps hoping, but it's been a while since it actually happened. In the three years since Pitts had 68 catches for 1,026 yards as a rookie, he has totaled 128 catches for 1,623 yards. The fourth pick of the 2021 draft was fifth on the team last season in catches with 47 for 602 yards. 'Everybody wants him to duplicate his rookie season,' coach Raheem Morris said. 'I think Kyle just has to go out there and be the best version of himself.' Penix, who played golf with Pitts multiple times in the offseason, said he believes that will happen this year. 'He's been working hard. He's had a great summer,' the quarterback said. 'He said he's feeling really good coming into camp, and I can see it. He's running very good and catching the ball very good as well.' MP 🔁 KP@themikepenix x @kylepitts__ — Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) July 24, 2025 Along with playing golf with Penix, Pitts' offseason consisted of swimming lessons with his young son, Kyle Pitts Jr., and studiously not paying attention to anything written about him in the media or on social media, he said Thursday. 'I don't read that rat poison,' he said. 'I don't get on Twitter and listen to the bots. Obviously, you're human, but I don't read into that. I learned that in college. I know who I am and I know the player I am, so I don't pay too much attention to it.' Pitts declined to discuss the specifics of the injury that kept him off the field during OTAs in the spring but pronounced himself healthy. His practice plan will be 'modified' early in training camp to allow him to acclimate back to practice, Morris said, but Pitts appeared to be a full participant Thursday. Advertisement 'I'm feeling great,' he said. 'I was just working through different things (during OTAs).' Pitts will be playing on the final year of his contract this season, making $10.9 million on a fifth-year extension triggered by the team. The 24-year-old said he hasn't started thinking about his second professional contract. 'We will figure that out at the end,' he said. 'This is the first day of camp.' Here are five more observations from the Falcons' opening day of camp. Right tackle Kaleb McGary also has a modified early practice plan after missing OTAs because of an offseason arthroscopic procedure to remove bone spurs from his ankle. 'I don't know if I've had a joint feel as good in a long time,' McGary said. McGary was on the field Thursday but sat out some reps with the first team as the Falcons worked Storm Norton at right tackle as part of McGary's acclimation process. McGary, who has started 92 games in six seasons in Atlanta, is in the final year of his second contract with the team, making $16.5 million. He's open to another contract with the Falcons 'anytime they want to pay me,' he said. 'You will never find somebody more willing to be paid in all your life, trust me,' he said, 'but honestly, I'm not really worried about it. If I don't do my job well enough, there's not much reason to worry about it. One thing at a time.' Linebacker Troy Andersen (knee) will start training camp on the physically unable to perform list, Morris said. The PUP list doesn't come with a defined time designation, so Andersen could be added back to the regular roster whenever his health allows. 'He is on track,' Morris said. 'He's doing really well. He's in great spirits.' Andersen has been limited to nine games in the last two years because of injury. Advertisement Penix isn't being shy about his expectations for the offense. 'The potential? We should be the best in the league,' he said Thursday. 'We should be unstoppable. That's our goal. We want to be No. 1 in all the categories on the offensive side of the ball.' Last year, the Falcons finished 13th in scoring (22.9 ppg), eighth in yards per play (5.8) and ninth in offensive success rate (49 percent). Running back Bijan Robinson has changed his mindset about preseason football, he said this week. 'I am very realistic,' he said. 'My first year, I was like, 'Playoffs,' now I know we have to focus on the little things first. This is the NFL. It can go either way.' The Falcons haven't made the playoffs since the 2017 season. 'We have to actually do it. No more talk. Talk doesn't help anything,' Robinson said. 'If we just put our heads down and work hard, we have the pieces we need for a great season. Now it's time to come together so we can do it.' .@Bijan5Robinson bringing the jukes ⛽️ — Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) July 24, 2025 It was tough to get much of a read on the defensive depth chart Thursday as Atlanta juggled extensively on that side of the ball, but rookie defensive back Billy Bowman got plenty of work at nickel cornerback and Khalid Kareem got a somewhat surprising amount of work with the reserve edge rushers. Rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. also were on the field a lot, but Morris said it will be impossible to start defining roles on defense until after the team begins practicing in pads on Tuesday. Penix, whose accuracy was an issue in his three starts last season, looked mostly sharp but not entirely. Penix threw a beautiful deep pass to Darnell Mooney on one pass but missed Ray-Ray McCloud high in the flat on another. (Top photo of Michael Penix Jr.: Dale Zanine / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
5 takeaways from Day 1 of Atlanta Falcons training camp
The Atlanta Falcons returned to the field on Thursday morning for their first official training camp practice. Overall, the team kept things light on Day 1 to help the players get acclimated. Head coach Raheem Morris provided injury updates on Troy Andersen and Bralen Trice before practice began, while giving some insight into the team's preseason plans. Unlike last year, Michael Penix Jr. entered camp as the starting quarterback ahead of Kirk Cousins. Penix made sure to feed the ball to Pitts, who shined on Day 1. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney fell hard early in practice and was replaced by Chris Blair. We've rounded up five takeaways from the Falcons' first official training camp practice below. Linebacker Troy Andersen placed on PUP list Andersen's chance to seize the other starting inside linebacker job next to Kaden Elliss took a major hit on Thursday. Morris told reporters that Andersen (knee) was placed physically unable to perform (PUP) list to begin training camp. The former second-round pick has struggled to stay healthy over his first three seasons. With Andersen sidelined, Divine Deablo is in line to start this season. The team signed Deablo to a two-year deal in free agency, and it appears to be money well spent. LB Bralen Trice is back After missing his entire rookie season due to a knee injury, Trice is healthy and looking to make an impact. The former Washington standout joined his former teammate, Michael Penix Jr., in his first live action since 2024. Head coach Raheem Morris was enthusiastic about Trice's return to the practice field: "I was so fired up about Bralen last year," said Morris. "I am again this year." Kyle Pitts looking good early After missing the team's previous offseason activities due to a foot injury, Pitts was back at it on Thursday morning. The former top-five pick was a favorite target of Penix on Day 1. While fans are hesitant to get excited about Pitts due to his lack of production in 2024, the fifth-year tight end is proving to me a matchup problem at camp yet again. Penix made it clear Pitts will be a big part of the offense. 'See we got Kyle Pitts the ball today? Gonna be a lot of that,' Penix told reporters after practice. Darnell Mooney banged up, exits practice Per team reporter Tori McElhaney, wide receiver Darnell Mooney "took a pretty hard fall after a deep ball from Penix." Mooney, who finished just shy of 1,000 receiving yards last season, was replaced by Chris Blair following his injury. It's possible the Falcons were just being cautious with Mooney, but the situation is worth keeping an eye on going forward. Morris on preseason plan for starters, first fully padded practice Morris gave some updates on the team's plans for training camp and the preseason. The Falcons will hold their first fully padded practice on Tuesday, allowing players to get acclimated for the first few days. As for the preseason, Morris didn't give a concrete answer on his plan for playing starters but indicated the team would take a similar approach to one they used last year. Atlanta was fairly cautious with its starters in 2024, so expect the same this time around. This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: 5 takeaways from Day 1 of training camp
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kirk Cousins on Falcons drafting Penix: 'I had no reason to leave Minnesota'
Season 2 of Netflix's "Quarterback" series was released on Tuesday, and it's definitely worth a watch if you're an Atlanta Falcons fan. The show follows three quarterbacks -- Kirk Cousins, Jared Goff and Joe Burrow -- throughout the ups and downs of the 2024 NFL season. While Goff and Burrow both had great seasons for their respective teams, Cousins had a year that he'd probably like to forget. After spending six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons in free agency. One month later, the veteran quarterback was shocked to see Atlanta draft Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Apparently, Cousins had no idea the team planned to select a quarterback. The show provided some insight into how it all went down, with the veteran QB giving his honest reaction to the news. "It felt like I had been a little bit misled or certainly if I had had the information around free agency, it would have affected my decision," said Cousins. "I had no reason to leave Minnesota, as much as we loved it there, if both teams were drafting a quarterback high." While this is certainly a fair point and likely would have altered Cousins' decision in free agency, nobody made him leave Minnesota. The Vikings attempted to re-sign Cousins but reportedly weren't willing to offer him a fourth year. Plus, the fact that Minnesota had planned to draft a quarterback made Cousins feel it was time to move on. However, the Falcons fell in love with Penix during the pre-draft process, and when he was available at pick No. 8, they didn't hesitate to pull the trigger. Cousins' reaction was understandable, and many veteran quarterbacks would have felt the same way. With that said, Atlanta had every right to do what was best for the team. Even if the move alienated Cousins, the team guaranteed him $100 million. Most players never sniff that kind of money in their NFL careers. Plus, Cousins made that much for just 14 games of work last season. This is why the Falcons aren't in a rush to do Cousins any favors, such as outright releasing him just so he can play elsewhere in 2025. The Falcons were heavily criticized at the time for drafting Penix, but it proved to be the right move as Cousins' play was wildly inconsistent. After leading the team to a 6-3 start, Cousins had the worst four-game stretch of his career, passing for one touchdown and eight interceptions while losing all four games. Despite leading the team to a win over the lowly Las Vegas Raiders, the Falcons benched Cousins and went to Penix for the final three games. The former Washington standout showed a ton of promise and will go enter the season as the undisputed starter at quarterback. Cousins' contract has made him tough to trade, and the lack of a market for quarterbacks has limited his potential options. For now, the Falcons seem content keeping Cousins on the roster to back up Penix. This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: Kirk Cousins felt 'misled' by Michael Penix Jr. pick
