Veteran safety Justin Simmons knew early that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had the goods.
Asked Tuesday on the Up & Adams show when he recognized Penix was the real deal, Simmons, who signed in ATL in mid-August, cited training camp.
"Training camp. It was my third day of practice, literally third day being there," Simmons said. "He was running the second-team reps and going up against the second-team defense, and he had this no-look throw down the sideline. It was the craziest throw I think I've ever seen in person, and I was like, oh, whatever it is, he has it. So, I'm excited to see what he does."
That's pretty high praise from a veteran who faced Patrick Mahomes twice a year for six seasons.
Penix might have impressed a defensive teammate during training camp, but the rest of the world didn't see the southpaw on the field until nearly Christmas, when he started the season's final three games and flashed playmaking ability.
Simmons' suggestion that he saw the potential in training camp could have caused some consternation in Atlanta. Kirk Cousins floundered last season, and the Falcons watched their postseason chances sink and collapse. If the locker room believed Penix was the better option during the midseason swoon, it is almost a surprise that Raheem Morris didn't make the switch earlier.
Last year is in the past. The 24-year-old Penix is now clearly in the saddle as the Falcons' starting quarterback in 2025.
