Penix , the former UW Huskies star, said after Thursday\u2019s opening practice of training camp he feels more confident entering his second season because he was given his first three starts to close the 2024 season after Kirk Cousins was benched.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, it\u2019s very important,\u201d Penix said. \u201cJust knowing, just being able to go out there and get those games with full-speed reps. It instills confidence, knowing I can go out there and do the same thing that you saw in college and all my life. So, you know, just I would say biggest thing is confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Falcons were 1-2 with Penix as the starter to finish 8-9 for their seventh consecutive losing season. Though the switch to the rookie didn\u2019t produce a playoff berth, Penix said the experience was important for his 2025 outlook and his chemistry with the offense.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo Week 1 this year won\u2019t be the first time I\u2019m on the field with the starters in a game-time situation,\u201d Penix said. \u201cI feel like that was good as well. So the guys around me as well know what they\u2019re going to get out of me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Penix spoke with confidence when he was asked about the potential for an offense that returns running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts and an experienced offensive line.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should be the best in the league with the guys we\u2019ve got around us,\u201d Penix said. \u201cWe should be unstoppable. So that\u2019s that\u2019s our goal. We want to be No. 1 in all categories.\u201d<\/p>\n
Penix spent extra time throwing to Pitts and London this offseason and had Pitts on his mind when he spoke with reporters Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou see we got KP the ball today,\u201d Penix said to open the interview session. \u201cThere\u2019s going to be a lot of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Penix has the confidence of his teammates as the new leader of the offense.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just that guy and he goes out there and he does the same thing every day and that\u2019s work hard,\u201d London said, adding Penix \u201chas a cannon\u201d as a passer.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Old news<\/p>\n
Cousins returns in a backup role after disclosing on the Netflix docuseries \u201cQuarterback\u201d that he played through pain in his right arm in the second half of the season, in part to avoid losing his job to Penix. Cousins threw eight interceptions with no touchdowns in a stretch of four straight losses following a 6-3 start and insisted through the streak he was healthy.<\/p>\n
Morris said Thursday the comment by Cousins in the Netflix show was \u201ckind of old news\u201d and added \u201cwe addressed that when it was happening. \u2026 Nothing was a shocker.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cousins, 36, signed a four-year, $180 million contract last March that included $100 million guaranteed. General manager Terry Fontenot has said the team is comfortable with Cousins as the backup to Penix. Morris said in the offseason \u201cwe won\u2019t hold him back if the opportunity presents himself\u201d to be traded to a team looking for a starter.<\/p>\n
Phil Steele has higher expectations for UW Huskies this season<\/a><\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SeattleSportsEmail-830x100-1.jpg\")
\t