Michael Penix Jr. threads needle to Drake London in 11-on-11 debut

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. made his much-anticipated return to 11-on-11 action on Monday and it didn't take long for him to show off his trademark arm talent. Penix drew cheers from those in attendance with a beautiful throw to Drake London.

The third-year quarterback zipped the pass over the outstretched arms of linebacker Divine Deablo and dropped it in perfectly to London over the middle for a huge gain. It was the exact type of throw that led Atlanta to draft Penix eighth overall back in 2024.

While he has frequently been criticized for his accuracy, that's more so due to his completion percentage rather than his actual ball placement. As you can see below, Penix could not have placed the ball any better despite it being a high-velocity throw.

9 to 5 🔥 pic.twitter.com/67R6STj3bW

Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said the Penix would split first-team reps with Tua Tagovailoa this week, but would not say whether or not Penix would play in Friday's preseason finale against the Miami Dolphins.

"I can't speculate on those types of things," Stefanski said in response someone asking if Penix would be ready for the team's 2026 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Nonetheless, it's good to see Penix back out there. The Falcons quarterback competition should really start to heat up this week. Check back later this evening for our Falcons Wire Recap to catch up on all of the latest news.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Michael Penix Jr. threads needle to Drake London in 11-on-11 debut