MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was 9-of-16 passing for 104 yards in the Atlanta Falcons’ 20-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium, the preseason opener for both teams.
Penix, the former University of Washington star selected eighth overall in April’s NFL draft, started and played the first five series for Atlanta’s offense. He connected with receiver Chris Blair on a 41-yard pass down the sideline midway through the first quarter for his longest completion.
“It was fun to be able to be out there competing with my brothers,” Penix said. “Playing the game since I was 5 years old. No nerves. No jitters. I was just ready to go.”
Penix directed two drives that ended in scores: Younghoe Koo’s 39-yard field goal and Carlos Washington’s 1-yard touchdown run. Taylor Heinicke replaced Penix with 6:40 remaining in the second quarter.
“There are some things I definitely want to get better,” Penix said. “I felt I executed the offense the best that I could. Just trying to get points on the board whenever I’m out there.”
Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receiver Tyreek Hill were among the veterans who weren’t in uniform for the home team. Tagovailoa recently signed a four-year contract extension with the Dolphins through 2028, and Hill had his contract restructured during training camp.
“We had some defensive players play out of position because of some depth issues,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “So it was good to see our guys get a win in front of the home fans.”
In addition to Penix’s first game, it was also the debut for Raheem Morris as head coach of the Falcons. Morris was hired in January as the replacement for Arthur Smith, who was fired after a three-year tenure with a trio of 7-10 seasons and no appearances in the playoffs, which the Falcons haven’t made since the 2017 season.
Morris is a former Falcons assistant and went 4-7 as Atlanta’s interim coach in the 2020 season, when Dan Quinn was fired after an 0-5 start to his sixth year leading the team. Morris was the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams the past three seasons.
“We got a chance to look at these guys go out and make some plays,” Morris said. “I saw many 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 it at 10. Wright then ran it in from 6 yards after linebacker Isaiah Mack recovered Heinicke’s fumbled snap. Mack, 28, was a high school standout at Georgia’s Northwest Whitfield and then starred at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Instead of keeping the ball as a memento for his first NFL score, Wright threw it into the stands.
“It was excitement. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Wright said.
Sanders and Koo made field goals in the third quarter before Atlanta twice turned it over on downs inside the Miami 10-yard line in the fourth quarter.
The Falcons initially plan to utilize Penix as an understudy to veteran Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year deal in the offseason at the start of free agency.
“I felt really good about Michael,” Morris said. “It was fun to see him go out there and execute some of the pass plays. Lead the offense, getting them in and out of the huddle. A pretty good night for him.”
It is unclear whether Cousins will take snaps during the preseason as he recovers from an Achilles’ tendon injury that sidelined him the final nine games last season with the Minnesota Vikings. Cousins has participated in Atlanta’s training camp, including the two joint practices with the Dolphins at their South Florida facility this week.
While Penix played, edge rusher Chop Robinson, the Dolphins’ first-round pick at No. 21 overall, was not in uniform.
Atlanta safety DeMarcco Hellams was carted off the field because of a left leg injury early in the first quarter, and linebacker Bralen Trice also injured his left leg.
The Falcons visit the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 17, then conclude their preseason schedule with a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 23.