Falcons' Michael Penix Jr.: Week 3 Waiver Priority List
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Penix (knee) will make his season debut in Week 3 at Green Bay, and we're excited to see him on the field. It's more about what he'll do for Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson, but Penix could also be a low-end starter in deeper, one-quarterback leagues for the rest of the season. He's worth adding in those formats for 1 percent of your remaining FAAB. And he's a must-add where available in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues for at least 15 percent of your remaining FAAB.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Slated to start Thursday in '26 debut
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The Falcons announced that Penix (knee) has been named the team's starting quarterback for Thursday's game against the Packers, Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports.
Atlanta has determined that Penix is ready to make his 2026 debut, after he was held out for the first two games of the season while ramping back up from surgery last November to address a torn ACL in his left knee. Penix was cleared to resume taking part in 11-on-11 drills in late August, then avoided any setbacks while he was a full participant in practices throughout Weeks 1 and 2. With Penix back in the fold, Cooper Rush -- who started the first two games of the season -- could be inactive for Week 3 if Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) is deemed ready to handle the No. 2 role.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Could start in Week 3
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Penix (knee), who has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers, could be cleared to start Thursday's game against the Packers in Week 3, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Penix was ruled out for Week 2 on Friday, so Cooper Rush will start for the Falcons for the second time in as many games. However, Penix has been practicing fully for two weeks, and if he feels confident that he is ready to play on his surgically-repaired left knee, he could take over as Atlanta's starter in Week 3.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Could play in Week 2
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Penix (knee) was listed as a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Daniel Flick of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Penix practiced fully from Wednesday through Friday last week and ultimately was inactive for Week 1, so he is not a lock to suit up for Week 2 just yet. However -- per the same source above -- he shared the first-team work with Cooper Rush on Wednesday, and -- via Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com -- Penix himself indicated he could take the field Sunday. It likely will not be known for a day or two who will start at quarterback for the Falcons in Week 2, but at the least Penix is in the mix.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Eyeing return for Week 2 or 3
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Penix (knee) will be out for Sunday's season opener in Pittsburgh but is targeting Week 2 or 3 for his 2026 debut, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Atlanta will be down to its No. 3 quarterback for Week 1, as Cooper Rush -- despite dealing with back spasms -- will pick up the start against the Steelers while Penix and Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) sit out. Penix didn't play in the preseason while completing his recovery from the torn ACL he sustained last November, but he took part in six 11-on-11 practices during training camp and was then a full participant in practices throughout Week 1 prep. If he remains free of setbacks while logging a full slate of practices during Week 2 prep, Penix could be the Falcons' choice to start in their next game Sept. 20 against the Panthers, regardless of whether Tagovailoa is available.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Still out Week 1, but FP all week
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Penix (knee), who won't play Sunday in Pittsburgh, was seen throwing to practice-squad players during the open portion of Friday's practice, Daniel Flick of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
On Monday, coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Tua Tagovailoa would be the Falcons' Week 1 starting quarterback, while conversely Penix would be inactive for the season opener. On Thursday, though, Tagovailoa strained his oblique and now won't be available this weekend, either, with coach Kevin Stefanski calling him "week-to-week" Friday, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com. Penix's listed activity of "full" all week indicates he's closing in on his first game action since tearing his left ACL last November, and if Tagovailoa is indeed in danger of missing multiple games, Penix could soon be in the mix for starts under center. As for this Sunday, Cooper Rush will direct the offense, with Jack Strand backing him up.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Will be inactive for opener
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Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Penix (knee) will be inactive for Sunday's season opener in Pittsburgh, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
While addressing the media shortly after the Falcons named Tua Tagovailoa their Week 1 starter Monday, Stefanski noted that Penix had taken part in only six 11-on-11 practices during training camp, so the third-year quarterback will need some more time to get back to full speed following last November's ACL tear before making his 2026 debut, per Raimondi. The Falcons were pleased enough with Penix's progress to wait until less than a week before the opener to name a starter, which suggests that he'll likely get a chance to supplant Tagovailoa atop the depth chart at some point this season. While Penix is in street clothes for Week 1, Cooper Rush will step in as Tagovailoa's backup, and undrafted rookie Jack Strand will serve as the No. 3 quarterback.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Will start 'eventually,' if not Week 1
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The Falcons plan for Penix (knee) to start "eventually" this season, but head coach Kevin Stefanski has yet to decide whether Penix or Tua Tagovailoa will direct the offense Week 1 in Pittsburgh, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
Penix didn't suit up for the preseason while completing his recovery from Nov. 25 surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, but he was cleared to take part in 11-on-11 drills just under two weeks ago and has been able to get some reps in with the first-team offense. Stefanski plans to continue evaluating both Penix and Tagovailoa in practices this week and next before naming a starter. Because of Penix's limitations for much of training camp, Tagovailoa initially appeared to be a strong bet to open the season as the Falcons' starter, but a poor preseason in which he fumbled twice and struggled to push the ball down the field has thus far prevented him from securing the Week 1 nod.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Intends to be ready Week 1
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Penix (knee) won't play in Friday's preseason game in Miami, but he believes he'll be available for a Week 1 road matchup with the Steelers on Sunday, Sept. 13, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Penix was cleared for team drills as of Saturday, but coach Kevin Stefanski won't allow the third-year pro to suit up with only three such practices under his belt. Penix also told Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network that it's "too soon" to play in a game, but he thinks he'll be capable both physically and mentally to be the starter if Stefanski names him the No. 1 over competitor Tua Tagovailoa. Penix is completing the final stages of his recovery from the torn ACL he sustained in his left knee in Week 11 of last season.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Preseason usage TBD
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Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Atlanta's starters will likely see action in the team's first and third preseason games, but it remains to be seen whether Penix (knee) will be ready to take the field by then, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Penix has progressed to taking part in 7-on-7 drills, though he has yet to be cleared for full-team drills. While the 2024 first-round pick recovers from November surgery to repair a torn ACL, Tua Tagovailoa (back) has had a chance to get a leg up in Atlanta's quarterback competition by working with the starters earlier in the offseason. Atlanta's QB room also includes Jack Strand and Cooper Rush.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Still weeks away?
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Penix (ACL) said Wednesday that when speaking with doctors last week, he was told he was still one month removed from recovery, D. Orlando Ledbetter of BowTieSports.com reports.
Penix also said that doctors told him he is further along in his recovery than expected, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com, but it's possible the 2024 first-rounder won't be cleared to participate in team reps for three more weeks, which would roughly align with the nine-month mark of his recovery from knee surgery undergone to repair a torn left ACL. Meanwhile, with Tua Tagovailoa (back tightness) also currently dealing with injury, Atlanta has signed Cooper Rush to provide depth at quarterback alongside undrafted rookie Jack Strand. Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports that the Falcons still have optimism that Penix could be cleared in time to log preseason action, so it's possible he could be ready for 11-on-11 drills before late August. That said, head coach Kevin Stefanski relayed Wednesday that he does not have an exact timetable for Penix to be fully cleared, per Raimondi.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Still not ready for 11-on-11 drills
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Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that Penix (ACL) has not been cleared to participate in 11-on-11 drills at mandatory minicamp, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
Stefanski reiterated that Atlanta remains "very comfortable" with the progress Penix has made in his recovery from left ACL surgery. Regarding the quarterback competition between the 2024 first-round pick and former Dolphin Tua Tagovailoa, Stefanski said "we're not giving out any jobs in June." By all accounts, the QB competition won't truly kick off until Penix has been cleared for full-team reps, but the head coach declined to state whether that's expected to happen by the start of training camp in July. If Penix remains limited to individual drills at that point, Tagovailoa will likely begin to pull ahead.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Team reps at minicamp TBD
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Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski declined to announce Monday whether or not Penix (knee) will be ready to handle 11-on-11 reps during mandatory minicamp next week, Marc Raimondi of ESPN reports.
Stefanski said during OTAs in May that clearance for Penix to handle team reps would be "coming soon" and that the quarterback has impressed in 7-on-7 drills, but it remains to be seen whether the 2024 first-round pick will be on the field for full-team activities during minicamp. The 26-year-old had a scheduled day off Monday, and Stefanski said he is "hitting every milestone he's supposed to hit" in his rehab. Penix is recovering from mid-November surgery to repair a partially torn left ACL. Stefanski also noted that Atlanta's quarterback competition between Penix and Tua Tagovailoa will not truly begin until both players are available for full-team reps.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Not yet cleared for full-team drills
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Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Penix (ACL) has not yet been cleared for 11-on-11 drills at OTAs, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Penix took part in non-contact 7-on-7 drills and individual work during OTAs in mid-May, but he's not yet ready to ramp up his participation level to 11-on-11 activities. In the meantime, the full allotment of such reps will go the way of Tua Tagovailoa. Once Penix is fully recovered from the surgery he underwent in mid-November of the 2025 season to repair a partially torn left ACL, however, he and Tagovailoa will be slated to compete for No. 1 reps. Stefanski declined to offer a specific assessment of Penix's rehab progress to date, per Raimondi, though he said the 2024 first-round pick is doing "outstanding" and is "exactly where he needs to be" despite not yet being "100 percent."
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Taking part in 7-on-7s
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Penix (knee) will participate in 7-on-7s and individual drills Tuesday, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Practices in May are no-contact, and mostly at less than full speed. It's nonetheless a good sign for Penix to be on the field in any fashion less than six months removed from surgery to repair the third ACL tear of his football career. Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski hinted at a return to full-team drills in the not-so-distant future, but that doesn't necessarily mean Penix will be cleared for contact during training camp in late July. Stefanski also mentioned that the team will be "very intentional" about splitting reps between Penix and Tua Tagovailoa, per Tori McElhaney of the team's official site. The Falcons have made it clear they signed Tagovailoa to compete for the starting job, even if Penix clears all medical hurdles long before Week 1.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Expects to be ready for Week 1
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Penix (knee) said Wednesday he "look[s] forward to being back Week 1," but he added "we'll see" and noted that Atlanta's medical staff will have "the last word" on his recovery timetable, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Penix mentioned his familiarity with the process of rehabbing from ACL tears, as he suffered similar injuries twice during his collegiate career, both to his right knee. Currently, Penix is rehabbing from a torn left ACL for which he underwent surgery Nov. 25, roughly 9.5 months prior to Week 1 of the 2026 campaign. That places Week 1 squarely within the typical 9-to-12-month recovery timetable for ACL tears, albeit on the earlier end of the scale. Per Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site, new head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Tuesday that Penix already has resumed "attacking his rehab" at the team's training facility. Stefanski expressed excitement about Penix as "a young player who will continue to develop and continue to get better." Meanwhile, veteran Kirk Cousins is the only other quarterback under contract with Atlanta for 2026, though he reworked his deal with the team in early January in a maneuver that likely will result in either another restructure or his release prior to March 13, per Field Yates of ESPN.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Surgery goes well
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Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said that Penix (knee) underwent full reconstructive surgery to address the partially torn ACL in his left knee on Tuesday and experienced no complications with the procedure, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Penix faces a nine-month recovery timetable as a result of the procedure. The 25-year-old quarterback has now undergone ACL reconstructive surgeries three times in his career, as he previously had procedures on his right knee in 2018 and 2020 while in college. He also suffered season-ending injuries to each shoulder in 2019 and 2021. Morris has said that the severe nature of Penix's injury will "100 percent" influence Atlanta to "make some different plans" at quarterback this offseason, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, though that could just as easily refer to the team prioritizing a reliable backup rather than bringing in actual competition for the starting role. Kirk Cousins will start the remainder of the season under center for the Falcons, but this offseason the team can exercise a potential 'out' for the final two season of his four-year, $180 million contract at the cost of a $35 million dead-cap hit. Atlanta doesn't currently hold any first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, which will limit the team's ability to maneuver in pursuit of a high-upside alternative at quarterback.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Lands on IR
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The Falcons placed Penix (knee) on injured reserve Monday, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
Atlanta is still evaluating Penix to determine the severity of the left knee injury he sustained in Sunday's 30-27 overtime loss to the Panthers, but with his move to IR, the second-year quarterback will miss at least four games. Kirk Cousins is slated to take over as the Falcons' new starting signal-caller in Penix's absence. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network previously relayed that Penix aggravated an existing bone bruise and knee sprain while also suffering damage to the ACL in his left knee. During his college career, the 25-year-old underwent surgeries to address ACL tears in his right knee in 2018 and 2020, and he also suffered season-ending shoulder injuries in 2019 and 2021.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Could miss additional games
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Penix (knee) is believed to have aggravated a previous knee injury during Sunday's 30-27 overtime loss to the Panthers, and there is concern that he could miss additional time, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report.
Penix exited in the third quarter of Sunday's loss, and Kirk Cousins finished out the game in relief. Cousins filled in when Penix sat out Atlanta's 34-10 loss to the Dolphins due to a bone bruise in his knee Week 8. If Penix misses additional action as feared, Cousins would start Week 12 against the Saints. Penix is set for additional testing on his injury.
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Falcons' Michael Penix Jr.: Sleeper QBs
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Penix is worth using if you need a quarterback in deeper leagues in Week 10 against the Colts in Berlin, and hopefully, he'll stay hot coming off his performance in Week 9 at New England when he scored 28.7 Fantasy points. That's only his third game this season with more than 20 Fantasy points, but Indianapolis has allowed four quarterbacks this season to score at least 24.7 points. I love what Penix did against the Patriots by leaning on Drake London, who caught three touchdowns, and that's something Penix should continue to do on a weekly basis.
