MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Atlanta rookie Michael Pennis Jr. completed 9 of 16 passes for 104 yards in the Falcons’ 20-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Friday night in the preseason opener for both teams.
Pennis, a former Washington star who was drafted eighth overall, started and appeared on the first five drives.
He recorded his longest passing completion, a 41-yard pass down the sideline to receiver Chris Blair midway through the first quarter.
Penn led two drives that ended in scores, a 39-yard field goal by Youngho Koo and a 1-yard touchdown run by Carlos Washington.
Taylor Heinicke replaced Pennis with 6 minutes, 40 seconds left in the second quarter.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receiver Tyreek Hill were among the veterans who did not wear a uniform for Miami. Tagovailoa signed a four-year extension and Hill restructured his contract during training camp.
Jason Sanders made field goals of 58 and 47 yards and the Dolphins scored 14 straight points in the second quarter to take the lead.
Skylar Thompson threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Wilson Jr. to tie the score at 10-10, after linebacker Isaiah Mack recovered a fumbled snap by Heinicke and Jalen Wright ran in from 6 yards out for the score.
Sanders and Koo each made field goals in the third quarter, but Atlanta committed two turnovers inside Miami’s 10-yard line in the fourth quarter.
The Falcons initially plan to use Penis as a replacement for veteran Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year contract during the offseason.
Cousins is recovering from an Achilles injury that caused him to miss the final nine games of last season and it is unclear whether he will take any snaps during the preseason.
Cousins participated in Atlanta’s training camp, including two joint practices with Miami at the Dolphins’ facility this week.
While Pennis was playing, edge rusher Chop Robinson, a first-round draft pick for the Dolphins, was not in uniform.
