Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr.had his expected surgery Tuesday, and Drake London “looks good” as he recovers from his injury.
Those were the key takeaways from pre-Thanksgiving practices at Flowery Branch ahead of the Falcons meeting the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium this Sunday, in a game the team hopes will build on their win against division rivals New Orleans Saints last Sunday.
Penix Jr., ruled out of action for the rest of the season due to a knee injury in Week 10, apparently successfully completed surgery yesterday. “[It] went well,” said Falcons coach Raheem Morris at a press conference at the team’s Flowery Branch headquarters. “Really fired up about that and really fired up about when he comes back.”
Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said he communicated with Penix Jr. via text after surgery. “Sounds like he’s in good spirits,” he said.
London remains on a week-to-week status due to his injury. “He looks good,” Morris said. “He’s moving around. I’m happy that we’ll get him back soon.” Morris said he was not sure when London would return to action, but he is unlikely to play Sunday against the Jets. He did not practice today.
After a five-game performance downturn for the Falcons under Penix Jr. and a win against the Saints on Sunday that ended that losing streak with Kirk Cousins back as the starting QB after the Penix Jr. injury, questions were asked about both QBs’ overall performance.
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Robinson had positive things to say about starting quarterback Cousins’ performance against the Saints. “I thought Kirk did well,” he said. “Obviously, it was a little different look from some different things. I thought he did a great job.” He added that a pick-six Cousins threw was an “unfortunate” occurrence. “It’s football. Sometimes those things bounce their way.
“There has been some talk this week about Penix Jr.’s lack of under-center play. Cousins included under-center plays Sunday that Penix Jr. did not use when he was the starting quarterback with the Falcons earlier this season. Robinson said he would be doing more under-center action as part of his development. “It’s all predicated on our personnel, those guys, and how we’re trying to match up the run and pass game.”
Cousin’s successful passes to Darnell Mooney against the Saints were also a topic of questions for Robinson. On whether Cousins connects better with Mooney than Penix Jr. did, “Mike and Mooney were so close on stuff. They just haven’t had that kind of rapport just from the lack of availability with Mooney throughout the season and training camp,” said Robinson.
In other Falcons news, kicker Zane Gonzalez was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He has been a reliable scorer for the Falcons since he joined the team after the performance-based departures of kickers Younghoe Koo and Parker Romo.
The team nominated inside linebacker Kaden Elliss for this year’s Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, which recognises players demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship.
“That’s self-explanatory,” said Morris about Elliss. “The guy he is in our community. The guy he is for our team. He’s our captain. He’s one of the better people I’ve been around in my life, just in general, football or whatever.”
KJ Osborn has been signed to the Falcons’ practice squad. Cousins had positive things to say about the new signee. “You definitely can rely on him.”
