The Atlanta Falcons announced on Monday that Michael Penix Jr. will start at quarterback on Thursday night on the road against the Green Bay Packers, his first start since he tore his left ACL in Week 11 last November. Penix, 26, had reconstructive surgery a few weeks after the injury and then another procedure to further stabilize the joint.
Falcons name Michael Penix Jr. to start at quarterback Thursday at Green Bay
The Atlanta Falcons announced on Monday that Michael Penix Jr. will start at quarterback on Thursday night on the road against the Green Bay Packers, his first start since he tore his left ACL in Week 11 last November. Penix, 26, had reconstructive surgery a few weeks after the injury and then another procedure to further stabilize the joint.
Penix was cleared by doctors to practice fully in late August but told the team before Week 1 that he was not ready for live game action. The typical timetable for a return from ACL surgery is between nine and 12 months.
Tua Tagovailoa, whom the Falcons signed in the offseason, got the starting quarterback job out of training camp, but he suffered an oblique injury in practice, forcing third-stringer Cooper Rush into starts in the Falcons' first two games. Rush, who was dealing with back spasms, was 22-of-39 passing for 229 yards with one touchdown, four interceptions and a lost fumble.
Rush was benched for undrafted rookie Jack Strand in the third quarter of Sunday's 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Strand, seeing his first NFL action, threw a pick-six on his first pass attempt and finished 8-of-15 for 59 yards with no touchdowns and the interception. According to the source, he was the first quarterback to throw a pick-six in his first career pass attempt since Sam Darnold in 2018, and the first Falcons quarterback to do it since Brett Favre in 1991.
Penix has completed 59.6% of his passes for 2,757 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions over two seasons. Atlanta drafted him No. 8 in 2024, and he replaced Kirk Cousins late in the 2024 season as the starter. He still has only 12 career starts.
- The source does not state whether the Falcons will limit Penix's snaps or playing time in his first game back.
- The source does not state the current status of Tua Tagovailoa's oblique injury or whether he will be available against the Packers.
- The source does not state the Falcons' win-loss record or their standing in their division.
- The source does not name the doctors who cleared Penix to practice fully, beyond describing them as doctors.
- The source does not state whether Rush or Strand will remain in the quarterback rotation after Penix returns.