KEN ON PENIX![\"Falcons](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ZDTEQZT3OFNDHLH26YNVB7U62I.jpg\")
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Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez\/AJC<\/p>\n
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Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez\/AJC<\/p>\n
Every Thursday, Sports Daily invites AJC columnist Ken Sugiura to formally join the party. Take it away, Ken. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s way early and it\u2019s the time of year when everyone is optimistic about everything. But there\u2019s plenty of reason for Falcons fans to be hopeful for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to take a step forward in his second season. <\/p>\n
Maybe even a couple.<\/p>\n
Obviously, he should get better just because he\u2019s no longer a rookie and has three starts to his credit.<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udcc8 But another is the growth he should experience in working with the starters, such as wide receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney, tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Bijan Robinson. The reality is, last year, because he was running the scout-team offense for most of the season behind Kirk Cousins, he didn\u2019t have much practice time with them.<\/p>\n
Sometimes in Penix\u2019s three starts, when he threw to a particular receiver running a particular route, it was the first time the two players had executed that play together, whether in practice or a game, quarterbacks coach T.J. Yates said, \u201cbecause you can\u2019t really cover everything on a week-to-week basis.\u201d<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udcc8 As Yates saw it, Penix having the time to gain that experience with the likes of London and Mooney this offseason and in preseason could help him progress even faster.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe amount of reps that they\u2019ll get offseason, OTA, training camp, whether they\u2019re working out on their own, it\u2019s just going to be huge for this offense taking the next step,\u201d Yates said.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a long way away, but Penix\u2019s development is going to be fun to watch once the games start. What he showed in those three starts at the end of the season \u2014 particularly the accuracy and poise \u2014 was so intriguing. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s conceivable, maybe even likely, that there\u2019ll be a lot of bumps and struggles this season for Penix. But I\u2019m looking forward to watching it all unfold.<\/p>\n
A NEW NO. 11?<\/p>\n
OK, Tyler jumping back in here real quick. <\/p>\n
While we\u2019re talking about the Falcons, thought you\u2019d like to know the team announced jersey numbers<\/a> for this year\u2019s rookies.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc40 Particularly interesting: Ex-Georgia pass rusher Jalon Walker will wear No. 11. That\u2019s the same number he wore in college \u2026 and also that of a certain wide receiver who\u2019ll eventually end up in the Falcons Ring of Honor.<\/p>\n A couple of backup quarterbacks have worn No. 11 since Julio Jones departed, but this will be the first time a (potential) star player puts it on. Spicy! <\/p>\n OK, back to Mr. Sugiura. <\/p>\n KEN ON CURTIS Credit: Jeff Sentell\/DawgNation<\/p>\n Credit: Jeff Sentell\/DawgNation<\/p>\n On the topic of ballyhooed quarterbacks, Georgia fans have likely read and heard plenty of praise for Jared Curtis, the top-rated quarterback in the 2026 class who made his commitment to the Bulldogs this week<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd14 Seeking an unbiased assessment, I asked a college coach (not at Georgia) who has seen Curtis play in person for Nashville Christian and has some familiarity with him. It was no less enthusiastic.<\/p>\n \u201cHe can play,\u201d the coach said. \u201cHe\u2019ll be a home run at Georgia. He is good. He\u2019s not one of these overrated ones. There\u2019s a lot of overrated ones; I don\u2019t see him as being one of them. He\u2019s got an arm, he can throw, he can run, great touch and a great work ethic. Great kid.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a long time before Curtis sets foot on campus in Athens and who knows how much longer it\u2019ll be before he would play. Projected starter Gunner Stockton could be a senior in 2026 and Ryan Puglisi would be a junior.<\/p>\n But his arrival will be anxiously awaited.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc1d Bonus Georgia Tech link: Carrollton linebacker commits to Jackets<\/a><\/p>\n KEN ON \u2026 TRAVEL<\/p>\n You may have heard about the new REAL ID requirements for air travel that went into effect Wednesday. <\/p>\n My impending trip to Pittsburgh (I\u2019ll be covering the Braves-Pirates series this weekend to give our Braves beat writer, Justin Toscano, a break) reminds me of one of my triumphs in air travel, one that presumably wouldn\u2019t fly (ha ha) with the new policy in place.<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude2c On a trip to Pittsburgh to cover a Georgia Tech-Pitt basketball game \u2014 I want to say it was 2018 \u2014 I arrived at the airport without my driver\u2019s license. Actually, without my wallet.<\/p>\n I got in touch with my Uber driver hoping that I\u2019d left it in his car. (Naturally, my phone was also about to run out of battery, so I called him with my phone plugged into my laptop. Knowing me, I think it\u2019s reasonable to assume that I was also running late for my flight.) Alas, he did not have it and there wasn\u2019t enough time to go back home to retrieve it. <\/p>\n \ud83d\ude2c So I had to throw myself on the mercy of TSA employees. All I had that identified me was a media credential issued by Georgia Tech with my picture and name on it and a recent issue of Sports Illustrated with a mailing label that had my name and address on it.<\/p>\n Somehow, that got me through both at Hartsfield-Jackson and Pittsburgh International. (I think a TSA employee looked me up somehow to verify my rather flimsy ID.) I was quite thankful. And I managed to survive the two-day trip without a credit card, either. <\/p>\n I remember Tech\u2019s excellent sports information director, Mike Stamus, generously lent me some cash to tide me over, one of many times and ways he came to my aid during my years covering the Yellow Jackets.<\/p>\n Good times.<\/p>\n Good times, indeed! Thanks, Ken. Everybody give him a follow on the social media machine<\/a>. <\/p>\n QUICK HITS<\/p>\n \u26be The Braves couldn\u2019t muster enough runs<\/a> to win and get to .500, even after Reds starter Hunter Greene left with a groin injury. They\u2019ll try to avoid a split of the four-game series tonight at 7:15 on FanDuel Sports. <\/p>\n We also expect a more thorough update on Spencer Strider\u2019s status later today.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc0 The Dream won their preseason opener, topping Washington 80-70. Brittney Griner scored 16 and pulled down 10 rebounds in her unofficial debut. <\/p>\n The bad news: Star guard Jordin Canada left the game early<\/a> with an apparent knee injury. The team hasn\u2019t provided further updates. <\/p>\n \u26bd Atlanta United visits Chicago on Saturday, and beat writer Doug Roberson took a closer look at the numbers<\/a> \u2026 which remain a tad puzzling (and disconcerting) for the Five Stripes. <\/p>\n PHOTO OF THE DAY Credit: Butch Dill\/AP<\/p>\n Credit: Butch Dill\/AP<\/p>\n Maybe I\u2019m going nuts, but this one\u2019s weirding me out a bit. The eye placement, the ball kind of hovering in place. Anyone else see it? <\/p>\n QUOTE OF THE DAY<\/p>\n (Reds closer Emilio Pagan) has better numbers off right-handers, way better, and I thought maybe Eddie could recreate some old magic.<\/p>\n – Braves manager Brian Snitker on pinch-hitting Eddie Rosario for Eli White in the ninth inning Wednesday. Rosario struck out.<\/p>\n![\"Jared](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/YXTPE3ZRT5GT7HUYQTZXQOCGQ4.jpg\")
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