Falcons rookie Michael Penix was in line at Costco, waiting to buy a hot dog when offensive coordinator Zac Robinson called to tell the quarterback he was starting this week.
“I got a lot of feelings,” Penix said, via Terrin Waack of the team website. “I don’t know what they are, but I’m just ready to play.”
The Falcons benched veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins after five weeks of offensive struggles, with Penix’s time coming before anyone expected.
The No. 8 overall pick has appeared in two games this season, playing 20 snaps and going 3-of-5 for 38 yards.
“I ain’t going to lie, I’m going to be nervous running out of that tunnel,” Penix said. “But whenever I get on the field, it’s a whole different mentality, a flipped switch. I’m ready to go.”
Penix worked solely with the first-team offense for the first time Wednesday, taking some 70 reps.
“I just got to be myself,” Penix said. “I don’t feel like I got to be anybody else. I don’t have to try too hard to be the big leader, the vocal leader. Just be myself. Trust in my preparation and bring everybody along with me.”
He has the full support of Cousins, who called Penix on Tuesday night to tell him that.
“I just let him know I’d be in his corner and supporting him and trying to help him any way I can,” Cousins said. “The quarterback room when I’m playing, it’s a working force to help us all, and it’s the same now. That doesn’t change.”
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