Michael Penix Jr. Atlanta Falcons Rookie Minicamp Highlights

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Atlanta Falcons rookie minicamp took place Friday through Sunday at team headquarters, giving 40 players the chance to compete in front of head coach Raheem Morris and staff.

Among those players is first-round quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who threw his first practice passes in a Falcons uniform on Friday.

Here’s a look at several of them from our AllFalcons team…

After the session, Penix met with reporters for the first time since the day after being selected 8th overall, recapping his debut in red and black.

“It was good,” Penix said Friday. “It was fun to be able to be here and compete at the highest level. I’m blessed to be here and it was exciting.”

Penix, 24, revealed he is focused on learning the playbook, building relationships and building confidence with veterans and fellow rookies. He mentioned fishing as his favorite pastime and plans to find other hawks to go to the water with soon.

But the former University of Washington star was all business at rookie minicamp, adopting a growth mindset and not succumbing to the emotions of putting on a professional jersey for the first time.

“I put in a lot of work to be here,” Penix said. “The journey for me has never been easy, but I feel like everything I’ve been through is worth it. I go every day with this mindset that I just want to get better and help this team win football games.

“I’m here now, so I can’t sit here and not be starstruck – I have to produce.”

Penix and the rest of Atlanta’s rookies continue the offseason program Monday with the start of OTAs.