The NFL preseason has only just begun, and it didn’t take long to receive what surely seems to be the top meme of the 2026 season. And we have Michael Penix Jr. to thank for that. The Atlanta Falcons hosted the Denver Broncos on Friday to begin their preseason, and there was one moment on the sidelines that has been getting all the attention. HIGHEST PAID RECEIVER IN THE NFL: REPORTS Falcons quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. gave fans what seems destined to be an all-time meme at the start of the preseason. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) Tua Tagovailoa, whom the team acquired during the offseason, was sitting on the bench after his first possession in a Falcons uniform. It was then that Penix, who was standing nearby, pointed at him and made a bewildered face. I’d bet there’s another explanation for why Penix was pointing and doing the “Can you believe this?” face that everyone made on “The Office.” RAIDERS ROOKIE FERNANDO MENDOZA THANKS GOD FOR AN NFL DEBUT THAT COMPARES FAVORABLY TO ‘MR BRADY’ But it doesn’t matter why he did it. The only thing that matters is that he did it, and it’s about to be the meme of the year. The NFL is always fertile ground for memes. Hell, by the time the regular season starts, I think there’s a good chance this meme will be old news and something else will take its place. Memes can move, baby! Michael Penix Jr. is still recovering from an injury, and Tua Tagovailoa joined the team’s quarterback room this season. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) Penix, believed to be the Falcons’ starter, did not see any action in the game as he is still recovering from an injury. Meanwhile, Tagovailoa completed three of his five pass attempts for 22 yards. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP The rest of the snaps went to Jack Strand and Cooper Rush. Strand completed half of his 12 pass attempts for 50 yards and a touchdown, while Rush had a nightmare night going 7-for-19 with 62 yards and a pair of interceptions in the Dirty Birds’ 27-7 loss. Matthew Reigle is a writer for OutKick.
