Those at Wednesday’s joint practice between the Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans saw another side of Michael Penix Jr. Nobody expected the quarterback to get involved in a fight but that’s exactly what happened. Penix was caught up in the scuffle, and later joked it was “somebody else out there.”
Fights are every coach’s concern, with the risk of injury always looming. However, for the Falcons, this one became a showcase of Penix’s leadership, according to quarterbacks coach DJ Williams.
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reported that Williams’ immediate reaction was panic. But Williams quickly saw a positive: “You saw the guys take up for him, and I think that speaks to his leadership and who he is in that locker room.”
Williams stressed that while Penix is “the CEO” of the offense and can’t risk his body in such situations, his teammates’ reaction showed their belief in him.
“He has a relationship and the trust of the guys because everybody ran to his defense,” Williams said. “So, I think that’s a good thing for the Falcons.”
Penix, who is expected to be the Falcons’ starting quarterback this season, appreciated what he saw from his teammates on Wednesday.
“To see the team have my back and they were there, make sure they protect me,” Penix said. “A lot of guys asked me if I was good, and it was good to know that those guys had my back.”
Finding the positives in situations like this is how a team can flourish as they head in a new direction with Michael Penix Jr. under center.
