NFL world reacts to clip of Michael Penix Jr. playing under center

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. got fans talking on Friday after the team posted a clip of him playing under center at practice. While this may not seem like a big deal, Penix is recovering from a knee injury, and he rarely took snaps under center when Zac Robinson was the play-caller.

Anyone who has followed the team over the last two seasons is aware of Robinson’s fondness for the Pistol formation. Fans grew frustrated with this tendency, although many have speculated that Penix’s prior knee injuries played a factor in Robinson’s play-calling.

Penix was first shown throwing the ball last week, but he was stationary while doing so. This time, the team made sure to include a clip of him playing under center — which many said he couldn’t do.

After checking social media, it’s clear that Penix has quieted some doubters with his progress just six months removed from ACL reconstruction surgery.

NFL fans react to Penix playing under center

Here’s how Falcons fans reacted to the latest clip for Penix operating under center:

We’ll see if Robinson continues to rely on the Pistol formation as the offensive coordinator for the NFC South-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Plus, keep your eye on that quarterback battle between Penix and Tua Tagovailoa during OTAs.

The Falcons will face the Bucs in Weeks 8 and 16 this season. See their full 17-game schedule below.

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Atlanta Falcons 2026 NFL regular season schedule

Week 1: At Pittsburgh Steelers