DENVER — On a day when Bo Nix sparkled, fellow rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. made a cameo look in rubbish time.
That is the chilly, stark actuality of the NFL — not all rookies begin instantly, particularly when the staff that drafts them simply signed a high-priced free agent.
Nix confirmed all of the promise that was anticipated, throwing for 307 yards and 4 TDs — each season highs — in main the Denver Broncos to a 38-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
On the opposite sideline, Penix entered within the fourth quarter for mop-up responsibility, finishing 2 of 4 passes and offering Falcons followers with a sneak peek of the longer term, every time that day comes.
Till then, he’s staying prepared and studying as a lot as he can from veteran Kirk Cousins.
“Each and every day, I just try my best to be prepared,” Penix stated. “Just watching Kirk and seeing see how he goes about his day, and how he operates at a high level. Just trying to feed off of that, so that whenever I do get in the game, I’m ready for those moments.”
Penix was drafted eighth in a QB-rich draft class that noticed Caleb Williams (Chicago), Jayden Daniels (Washington) and Drake Maye (New England) go 1-2-3. They’re all taking part in, taking their lumps at instances however offering hope for his or her followers.
So is Nix, who was taken at No. 12 and earned the NFL’s Rookie of the Week honor following a loss at Kansas Metropolis.
Penix remains to be ready to get vital motion. Sunday marked his second look. He threw one move in opposition to Seattle in Week 7.
Penix, a lefty, is diving into his position as backup, studying the whole lot he can from the veteran sign caller who signed a four-year, $180 million contract with Falcons in March, a few month earlier than Atlanta surprised the NFL by deciding on Penix within the draft.
He’s spending his recreation days on the sideline listening on the headset, and attempting to examine what he would do in sure conditions.
“It’s different being on the sideline than being in the game, but the best I can, just going through the reads, looking at the guys based on our reads,” Penix stated. “Taking mental reps and trying to see what coverages they give us, different looks they give us.”
Penix accomplished his first move of the sport with round 9 minutes remaining, a strike to Ray-Ray McCloud III for 20 yards. He accomplished one other one, too, however he couldn’t keep in mind to which receiver.
Cousins helped remind him (KhaDarel Hodge for a 4-yard acquire).
“Oh, yeah, yeah,” Penix stated with a smile.
This wasn’t any form of analysis recreation for Penix, coach Raheem Morris stated. It was only a technique to get Cousins out of a recreation that went south quick.
Cousins (18 of 27 for 173 yards and an interception) and the Falcons have been saved out of the top zone whereas Denver outgained Atlanta 400 yards to 226.
With a bye week arising, it was an opportunity to relaxation him earlier than the NFC South-leading Falcons (6-5) face the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 1.
“Penix got us out of the game, the game that got away from us and did a nice job of doing that,” Morris stated. “Nothing to talk about. Michael Penix wasn’t being graded on that. He was able to get us out of the game a little bit healthier.”