Giants' Micah McFadden, Darius Muasau and Casey Rogers have seen what Michael Penix Jr. can do to a defense
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. warms up prior to an NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday in Las Vegas. Credit: AP/David Becker
Back in high school, Micah McFadden knew all about Michael Penix Jr. Both were Tampa-area natives and McFadden heard about Penix’s strong arm and accuracy.
McFadden then saw it firsthand for four years as Penix’s teammate at Indiana. Looking back, the Giants linebacker realized the quarterback was special.
“Just playing with him in college, we all knew the potential,” McFadden said. “Once he went to Washington and started doing all those things, a lot of people were kind of surprised. But I think the people who had seen him from the start knew the type of player he was and his capability.”
McFadden is one of a few Giants who know what to expect Sunday when they face the Falcons in Penix’s first NFL start. Penix, the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft, is a lefthanded gunslinger who led the NCAA in passing yards last season.
He’s in a different scheme with different players now. But the Giants still have a leg up with McFadden and several teammates having firsthand knowledge of Penix’s style.
Rookie linebacker Darius Muasau faced Penix once in 2022 when UCLA played Washington. UCLA won, 40-32, but Penix threw for 345 yards and four touchdowns, going 33-for-48 with two interceptions.
“Playmaker. That’s the first thing that comes to mind,” Muasau said. “I think he threw a lot of bombs in our game. He took a lot deep shots but also on the crosses in the middle [is] very accurate. He’s not afraid to run the rock if he needs to scramble.”
Former Oregon defensive lineman Casey Rogers saw the most of Penix as an on-field opponent. Rogers faced Penix three times and lost every one, including two games in 2023.
Rogers isn’t just watching film in meetings; he’s also going back to notes he took in college. He remembers how sneaky Penix’s mobility was even though he rushed for minus-9 yards combined in the two games against Oregon.
Instead of breaking off long runs, Penix moved to extend plays before throwing downfield.
“Just one of those guys. You got to be careful. You got to keep him in the pocket,” Rogers said. “But you also can’t let him be comfortable in there, because he can sling the ball.”
Any insight helps as the Giants try to avoid losing a franchise-record 10th straight game. Their only two wins this season have come on the road, so what better way to end the streak than away from MetLife Stadium, where they’ve looked like outmatched visitors instead of comfortable residents.
Penix represents a last hope for a Falcons team in the playoff hunt to salvage its season after snapping a four-game losing streak Monday against the Raiders.
McFadden isn’t surprised that his old quarterback is handling that kind of responsibility. He recalled Indiana’s 2020 loss to Ohio State in which Penix led the Hoosiers’ rally from a 35-7 deficit, throwing touchdown passes on four of the next five drives and finishing with 491 passing yards. Indiana lost, 42-35, but it left an impression on McFadden.
“He’s making back-of-the-end-zone throws and one receiver [Ty Fryfogle] had [218] yards,” McFadden said. “I think that was just the game that kind of proved what we all at Indiana kind of already knew, and [showed] the guy we had seen in practice and many games before that.”
That’s not what the Giants want to see Sunday.
Rogers just wants a win to get some payback for college. McFadden is eager to see up close how Penix has evolved from their Indiana days.
He rooted for Penix’s success at Washington. Now McFadden hopes his intel can make his old teammate’s first NFL start a rough one.
“If I can get a pad on him? That’ll be exciting,” McFadden said.
Notes & quotes: LB Brian Burns (ankle/neck) didn’t participate in practice Thursday but coach Brian Daboll said he “should be ready to go” Sunday. LB Bobby Okereke (back), LB Patrick Johnson (knee), OL Aaron Stinnie (concussion) and CB Greg Stroman Jr. (shoulder/shin) also did not practice.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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