When the Atlanta Falcons kick off their 2025 season on Sunday against their NFC South rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, former Washington Huskies superstar quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will have a lot to prove.
After starting the final three games for the Falcons last season while completing 58 percent of his passes for 775 yards and 3 touchdowns, adding a score on the ground, head coach Raheem Morris believes that Penix can lead the organization back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
On Wednesday, the runner-up for the 2023 Heisman Trophy took to the podium and discussed his preparedness as the team’s new full-time starter.
“I feel ready, I’m ready to go,” Penix said. “You’ve got to be, there’s no other choice, and I pride myself in making sure that each and every week, I’m ready come gameday. I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure that I’m ready physically and mentally to go out there and give my best performance.”
While he has an elite pair of weapons alongside him in running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London, questions have arisen about his offensive line. During training camp, the Falcons lost another former Husky star and first-round pick, right tackle Kaleb McGary, for the entire season due to a leg injury he suffered during the team’s final practice of training camp.
Despite the injury to his blindside protector, Penix added that just like his time on Montlake, he knows that he’s always ready to rise to the occasion.
“I’d say it’s just in me,” he continued. “It’s just the person I am, and that’s what I pride myself on being each and every day. Obviously, it’s not easy to wake up on game day. You’ve got steps, each and every day we’re getting better and that’s what it’s about.”