Morris: Falcons top QBs will not play in preseason finale

The final preseason game is generally made for guys on the roster bubble and any lasting competitions that could determine roles. If the Falcons were to play Penix or Cousins, it likely would have happened last week.

The decision not to play Penix at all during the preseason is a bit of a head-scratcher. Looking around the league, there were many quarterbacks with a lot more pedigree than Penix that made use of those extra reps. The Falcons better just hope he looks prepared for the start of the season because falling flat could lead to another lost year.

Atlanta opens with a Week 1 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have won the NFC South four straight years. They then play the Vikings, Bills, Commanders, and 49ers within the first six weeks, two of which will be featured on primetime. That’s four playoff teams from a year ago, and that doesn’t even include the road matchup in San Francisco, who are widely viewed as a Super Bowl contenders this year after a down season in 2024.