Michael Penix Jr. took every rep at Atlanta Falcons practice Wednesday and wanted that to answer the rib question. “It’s not always comfortable, but I made every throw today, so take that with what you want,” the quarterback said. When a reporter asked whether “positive” imaging meant good news or bad, Penix cleared it up: “No, positive means I’m good to play.”
Penix hurt his ribs on a sack late in regulation of Sunday night’s 30-23 overtime loss to Baltimore. He said there were no limitations in practice and that it does not compare with the injury he played through in college. “What I did on Sunday, it was not even close to what I did in college. So I feel way better than what I did then,” he said, noting that the college injury came in the last game of the season. Kevin Stefanski has said Penix is expected to start against Chicago if everything goes to plan.
Chicago without Montez Sweat
The Bears come to Atlanta on Sunday without edge rusher Montez Sweat, who is serving a two-game suspension. Penix did not expect that to change the picture much. “Obviously, he’s an impact player. He’s a very good player, made plays all throughout his career, even dating back to college,” he said. “But the next man up mentality in the league, I feel like the guys that’s right behind, if not as good, they’re very close. So it’s hard for us to try to say that that’s going to change much because of him being out.”
He gave Chicago’s defense credit beyond its personnel. “I feel like they have great players, and also just outside of the players, I feel like their scheme is very good,” Penix said. “For us, we just have to make sure we go out there and take care of the ball and just execute, execute at a high level, execute when it’s needed the most, and we’ll be just fine.” He said the film study goes beyond common opponents and back to last season, “because they could bring something against us that they haven’t shown since last year.”
“Just keep handing it off”
Asked how the run game can take the next step, Penix said: “Oh, just keep handing it off.” He then credited the offensive line coach. “We obviously have a genius of a mind with Coach Callahan, with the offensive line. He does most of the run game stuff,” Penix said. “So we really put a lot of trust in him. For us, we just got to execute the plan that’s given to us.”
Bijan Robinson and Drake London
Penix also compared his two most prominent weapons. “On the field, Drake is more loud, screaming. But Bijan, he’s always calm, not really saying nothing,” he said. “In the locker room, they both the same. They talk, they’re quiet, humble guys.” Asked whether he had ever seen Robinson upset, Penix answered: “No. I’ve never seen him get upset.”
The 2-3 Falcons host the Bears at 1 p.m. EDT on Sunday, October 18. Thursday’s and Friday’s practice reports will show whether Penix stays on track to start.
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