Falcons' Michael Penix: Throws three TDs to London
Rotowire
Penix (knee) completed 22 of 37 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday's 24-23 loss to the Patriots.
Penix posted a new career high with three touchdown passes in his return from a one-game absence due to a knee injury. All three were thrown to Drake London, who returned from a one-game absence of his own due to a hip injury. They connected for a one-yard touchdown in the first quarter, a two-yard touchdown in the second and an eight-yard score in the third. Seventeen of Penix's 22 completions went to either London or Bijan Robinson. Penix will likely continue to lean heavily on those two playmakers in Week 10 against the Colts in Berlin.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix: Cleared to play Week 9
Rotowire
Penix (knee) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at New England, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
WR Drake London (hip), WR Darnell Mooney (hamstring), TE Kyle Pitts (ankle) and LT Jake Matthews (ankle) also avoided game designations on the final injury report, bringing Atlanta's offense back to near-full strength ahead of a challenging matchup. Kirk Cousins' poor performance in Penix's stead last week likely answers questions about Penix being benched for performance reasons anytime soon.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix: Remains limited Thursday
Rotowire
Penix (knee) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Penix has maintained his activity level in practice for more than a week due to the bone bruise in his knee that he sustained Week 7 at San Francisco and sidelined him this past Sunday against the Dolphins. Coach Raheem Morris told Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com on Wednesday that he feels "really good" about Penix, after which the quarterback himself told McElhaney that he was "trending in the right direction." Penix may need to practice in full Friday to avoid an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game at New England, but it's unclear who between him and Kirk Cousins is destined to be Atlanta's starting QB in Week 9.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix: Officially limited Wednesday
Rotowire
Penix (knee) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Penix also was limited all of last week due to a bone bruise in his knee before the Falcons made him inactive for this past Sunday's game against the Dolphins, allowing Kirk Cousins to direct the offense in a 34-10 loss. Prior to Wednesday's session, coach Raheem Morris told Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com that he feels "really good" about Penix, and the quarterback himself relayed to McElhaney afterward, "I feel like I am trending in the right direction." Whether or not that'll amount to a return to action for Penix on Sunday at New England remains to be seen, but he'll have two more opportunities to prove the health of his knee before Atlanta potentially tags him with a Week 9 designation.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix: Officially inactive Sunday
Rotowire
Penix (knee) is listed as inactive Sunday against the Dolphins, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Penix was clearly hobbled in the waning minutes of last Sunday's loss at San Francisco. The eventual diagnosis was a bone bruise in his knee that limited him in practice during the entirety of Week 8 prep and left him questionable for Sunday's game. Adam Schefter of ESPN then reported Saturday morning that Kirk Cousins was likely to start in place of Penix, before reporting later Saturday that Cousins was trending toward leading the Falcons offense this weekend. Now that Penix has been deemed unavailable, Cousins will make his first start since Week 15 of last season, while the former has a good chance to return to action next Sunday in New England, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix: Set to miss Week 8
Rotowire
Penix (knee) remains listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins but isn't on track to play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
A bone bruise in his knee held Penix to three limited practice sessions this week, though he was deemed questionable on Friday's final injury report, with head coach Raheem Morris expressing optimism that the second-year quarterback would be able to play. However, the tide turned on that outlook Saturday, and Schefter's sources indicate that Penix will miss Sunday's matchup versus Miami. As a result, Kirk Cousins is slated to start at quarterback for the first time this season. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Falcons are hopeful that Penix's absence will be contained to one week, with the second-year signal-caller having a "real chance" to be back on the field Nov. 2 at New England.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix: Questionable, but coach optimistic
Rotowire
Penix (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, though Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Friday that he feels good about Penix's chances of playing, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Penix has had his practice reps limited by a knee injury that he sustained late in Atlanta's Week 7 loss to the 49ers. The second-year quarterback seems to be trending toward playing, but if Penix is unable to suit up, Kirk Cousins would be the next man up at home against the 1-6 Dolphins. A final determination on Penix's status may not come until 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix Jr.: QBs to Sit
Rotowire
Keep an eye on Penix in practice this week since he's dealing with a foot injury, and hopefully he'll be able to play for Fantasy managers who need him in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. But those are the only formats I'd use him in Week 8 despite the matchup with the Dolphins. Penix has scored more than 16.6 Fantasy points just once in his past five outings, and he has four touchdowns and three interceptions over that span. And this should be a game where Bijan Robinson and even Tyler Allgeier carry the Falcons offense because Miami is so bad at stopping the run.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix: Limited by knee injury
Rotowire
Penix (knee) was limited at Wednesday's walkthrough, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Coach Raheem Morris said Monday that Penix came out of Sunday's 20-10 loss in San Francisco with a bone bruise in his foot/ankle, per Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site. Morris then told Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com on Wednesday that Penix was "day-to-day" before the Falcons listed him with a knee injury on the first Week 8 practice report. No matter the nature of the issue, Morris feels good about the second-year quarterback ahead of the weekend, according to Raimondi, but Kirk Cousins is waiting in the wings in the event Penix isn't able to suit up Sunday against the Dolphins.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix: Upsets Bills on MNF
Rotowire
Penix completed 20 of 32 pass attempts for 250 yards and a touchdown while gaining six yards on two carries in Monday's 24-14 win over Buffalo.
Penix outdueled Bills star QB Josh Allen (57.7 completion percentage for 180 yards) on the national stage en route to the Falcons' third win of the campaign. Bijan Robinson stole the show on offense with 238 yards from scrimmage, but Atlanta's signal-caller also deserves praise for the upset victory. Penix led an impressive 14-play drive midway through the fourth quarter that ate up most of the remaining clock while deflating Buffalo's hopes of a comeback. The surging sophomore will look to build on a modest two-game win streak when the Falcons take on the 49ers in Week 7.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix Jr.: Week 5 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
Penix responded well in Week 4 against Washington after two down games against Minnesota and Carolina, when he combined for 9.1 Fantasy points. He had 22.7 Fantasy points against the Commanders, and hopefully, he can perform at this level for the remainder of the season. The Falcons have a bye in Week 5, but Penix is worth adding now for 1 percent of your remaining FAB if you're planning ahead. Atlanta faces Buffalo, San Francisco, Miami, New England, Indianapolis, Carolina, New Orleans, the Jets, and Seattle to close out the Fantasy regular season, and Penix can be used as a low-end starter in most of those matchups.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix: Strong bounceback in Week 4 win
Rotowire
Penix completed 20 of 26 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in Sunday's 34-27 win over the Commanders. He added two rushing yards on four carries.
After a rough Week 3 performance on the road in Carolina, Penix returned home in Week 4 and looked much more composed, topping his prior career high in yardage by one as he delivered his first multi-TD effort of 2025. The second-year QB hit Drake London for a five-yard score in the first quarter and Kyle Pitts for a seven-yard touchdown in the third, while both London and Bijan Robinson eclipsed the century mark in receiving yards, during a game in which Atlanta never trailed. Penix will get a week off for the Falcons' bye before facing a tough test in Week 6 against the Bills.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix Jr.: Week 2 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
For the rest of the season, I would make Penix the No. 1 quarterback to add for this week, but there are two concerns for him heading into Week 2. First and foremost, will he have his starting receivers available since Darnell Mooney (shoulder) was out in Week 1 against Tampa Bay, and Drake London (shoulder) was injured in that game. It appears like London will be fine, while Mooney is close to being ready, but it's something to monitor. And the Falcons play at Minnesota in Week 2, which should be a tough matchup. That said, Penix looked great against the Buccaneers with 27-of-42 passing for 298 yards and a touchdown and six carries for 21 yards and a touchdown. He's worth adding for 1 percent of your remaining FAB in deeper leagues.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix Jr.: Sleeper QBs
Rotowire
I'm hopeful that Penix has a healthy Darnell Mooney (shoulder) for this game, and this could be a shootout against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay was No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks last year, and Penix attempted 73 passes in his final two starts as a rookie in 2024. That volume could be there every week for Penix, given the Falcons defense, and Kirk Cousins combined for 785 yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception in two starts against the Buccaneers last season.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix: Well prepared for Week 1
Rotowire
Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said Thursday that Penix, who did not suit up for any preseason action, is "ready to go" for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Buccaneers, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.
Penix said, "I pride myself to make sure that each and every week I'm always ready come game day," though he acknowledged that "the biggest difference is the reps," or lack thereof, as he prepares for the fourth regular-season start of his NFL career. The presence of star playmakers Bijan Robinson and Drake London will assist Penix in his goal of hitting the ground running, and it's encouraging that Darnell Mooney (shoulder) has returned to practice in a limited capacity and seems to have a shot at playing Week 1. On the other hand, Atlanta's offensive line had looked like one of the team's major strengths the entire offseason, but with Kaleb McGary (leg) now done for the year and swing backup Storm Norton (ankle) out 6-to-8 weeks, third-stringer Elijah Wilkinson is expected to start at right tackle. The lack of reliable blindside protection will be a notable hurdle for the southpaw signal-caller to overcome Sunday and throughout the 2025 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix: Sitting out preseason finale
Rotowire
Penix will not play in Friday's preseason finale against the Cowboys, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Penix and veteran backup Kirk Cousins will both sit out a third consecutive preseason game, with Falcons coach Raheem Morris opting to rest veteran starters until the regular season. Atlanta waived quarterback Emory Jones (concussion) with an injury designation Monday, per Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site, leaving Easton Stick and new signee Ben DiNucci in position for preseason reps versus Dallas.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix: Locked in as QB1
Rotowire
Penix heads into training camp as Atlanta's undisputed starting quarterback, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Kirk Cousins presumably still wants to be traded, but that didn't stop him from attending spring practices and likely won't keep him out of training camp. The veteran is taking second-team reps now, after the Falcons averaged 32 points per game in Penix's three starts at the end of last season. Bijan Robinson scored two TDs in each of the three games, and Drake London had 352 yards and two TDs on 39 targets. Apart from the QB change and Ryan Neuzil replacing Drew Dalman at center, Atlanta's starting offense looks much the same as it did last summer. All of the team's projected 2025 starters were in Atlanta last offseason when offensive coordinator Zac Robinson installed his scheme.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix: Throws first NFL TD in OT loss
Rotowire
Penix completed 19 of 35 pass attempts for 223 yards, one touchdown and one interception while rushing for three yards on two attempts in Sunday's 30-24 overtime loss to the Commanders.
Penix offered mixed fantasy results in Sunday's narrow defeat, throwing his second interception while converting his first touchdown pass as a pro in the overtime loss to Washington. The Falcons opted to switch to the 2024 first-round pick after veteran Kirk Cousins couldn't lead the team to an elevated level of success in 2024. Penix figures to start again for Atlanta in a game the team must win to have a chance of making the playoffs in next Sunday's regular-season finale against Carolina in Week 18.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix Jr.: Week 14 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
It's not a bad idea to stash Penix heading into Week 14 at Minnesota just in case Kirk Cousins is benched. Penix could emerge as a starter in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues to close the season, and he's worth adding for at least 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Michael Penix: Won't play in preseason finale
Rotowire
Penix is expected to be held out of Atlanta's final exhibition game against Jacksonville on Friday, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Penix also didn't play in the Falcons' second preseason contest versus Baltimore on Saturday. Head coach Raheem Morris explained that the team feels it "saw enough last week [in Atlanta's preseason opener] of him and the live stuff," adding that "[Penix] showed us last week enough that we don't have to play him in the preseason." The rookie QB completed nine of 16 passes for 104 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions against Miami in Atlanta's first game of the preseason and is slated to open the regular season as the team's backup behind Kirk Cousins.
