DENVER (AP) — On an afternoon when Bo Nix sparkled, fellow rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. made a cameo appearance in garbage time. This is the cold, stark reality of the NFL — not all rookies start right away, especially when the team that drafts them just signed a high-priced free agent.
Nix showed all the promise that was expected, throwing for 307 yards and four TDs — both season highs — in leading the Denver Broncos to a 38-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. On the other sideline, Penix entered in the fourth quarter for mop-up duty, completing 2 of 4 passes and providing Falcons fans with a sneak peek of the future, whenever that day comes. Until then, he's staying ready and learning as much as he can from veteran Kirk Cousins.
“Each and every day, I just try my best to be prepared,” Penix said. “Just watching Kirk and seeing see how he goes about his day, and how he operates at a high level. Just trying to feed off of that, so that whenever I do get in the game, I’m ready for those moments.
” Penix was drafted eighth in a QB-rich draft class that saw Caleb Williams (Chicago), Jayden Daniels (Washington) and Drake Maye (New England) go 1-2-3. They're all playing, taking their lumps at times but providing hope for their fans. So is Nix, who was taken at No.
12 and earned the NFL's Rookie of the Week honor following a loss at Kansas City. Penix is still waiting to get significant action. Sunday marked his second appearance.
He threw one pass ag.