Falcons' Michael Penix: Fantasy-friendly numbers in loss
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Penix completed 19 of 33 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions while rushing once for one yard in the Falcons' 31-23 loss to the Bears on Sunday. He also threw two two-point conversion passes.
Penix and the Falcons faced a 28-7 deficit going into the fourth quarter, but he helped bring Atlanta back with 10- and five-yard scoring tosses to Kyle Pitts and subsequent two-point conversion passes to Zachariah Branch and Drake London, respectively. Penix also connected with Jahan Dotson for 13-yard scoring strike in the latter portion of the second quarter, and Sunday's game served as Penix's first multi-TD-pass effort of the season. The third-year signal-caller had also visited the medical tent in the first quarter for an undisclosed issue, but Penix appears to be healthy heading into a Week 7 home showdown against the 49ers on Sunday.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Returns to game Sunday
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Penix (undisclosed) reentered Sunday's game versus the Bears, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Penix paid a visit to the sideline tent in the first quarter of Week 6 action, but after a spell on the bench he was able to check back into the contest. If Penix eventually does miss any snaps, Tua Tagovailoa is on hand to direct the Falcons offense.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Visits medical tent Sunday
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Penix (undisclosed) went to the medical tent during Sunday's game against the Bears, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Penix was cleared to play in Week 6 after injuring his ribs near the end of a Week 5 overtime loss to the Ravens. The current health concern isn't known, but Tua Tagovailoa started warming up to replace Penix.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Ready for Week 6
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Penix (ribs) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game against the Bears, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Thus, the rib injury that Penix suffered late in the fourth quarter of last Sunday's overtime loss to the Ravens is behind him. Through his three appearances this season, he's completed 52 of 77 passes (67.5 percent) for 719 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Practices fully Wednesday
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Penix (ribs) was a full practice participant Wednesday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Penix suffered a rib injury late in the fourth quarter of this past Sunday's loss to the Ravens, which didn't allow him to take the field for the Falcons' only possession of overtime. Head coach Kevin Stefanski told Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com that Penix was slated to be limited at Wednesday's practice, but afterward the quarterback himself relayed to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, "We're good, and I feel good to go this week, so that's the plan. ... It's not always comfortable, but I made every throw out there today." Penix's subsequent full listing indicates as much, and he'll remain Atlanta's QB1 for Sunday's contest against the Bears.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Set for limited practice Wednesday
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Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Penix (ribs) will practice Wednesday but will be limited in some fashion, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Penix was sidelined for the extra period of Sunday's 30-23 overtime loss to the Ravens due to the rib injury, which he sustained when he was sacked late in the fourth quarter. While Stefanski didn't go into any specifics regarding the extent of Penix's injury, the coach said that the 26-year-old quarterback should be on track to start this coming Sunday against the Bears "as long as everything goes accordingly" in practice this week, per Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site. Penix looks as though he'll be listed as limited on the Falcons' initial Week 6 injury report, but he'll likely be locked in for the start if he's able to practice fully Thursday and/or Friday.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Could be available to play Week 6
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The Falcons have optimism that Penix's rib injury isn't overly serious and that he'll be available to play Sunday against the Bears, Jonathan Jones and Josh Kendall of The Athletic report.
Penix took a hard hit to his rib area late in the fourth quarter of this past Sunday's 30-23 loss to the Ravens and was unable to play in overtime period. He relayed after the game that he didn't think his rib injury was a long-term concern, and the Falcons are keeping the door open for him to start Week 6. Per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com, head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that he didn't have any new information regarding the status of Penix and wouldn't get into any further specifics regarding X-rays or imaging performed on the quarterback's ribs. Stefanski added that he expects to have a better understanding of Penix's availability Wednesday, when the Falcons will hold their first practice of the week.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Set for MRI on ribs
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Penix is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday after exiting Sunday's 30-23 overtime loss to the Ravens due to a rib injury, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Penix sustained the injury with 27 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, when he took a hard sack from linebacker Tavius Robinson. After giving way to backup Tua Tagovailoa for one snap, Penix checked back into the contest for the next play and threw an incomplete pass on a third-and-six before the Falcons punted the ball away. Atlanta then listed Penix as questionable to return to the game, but Tagovailoa ended up directing the offense for the team's lone possession of overtime. Per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com, Penix said that he likely would have been able to stay in the game if the Falcons had been on offense to begin overtime, but the pain in his ribs worsened during the Ravens' long touchdown drive to kick off the extra period. Penix is confident that his latest setback on the health front isn't a long-term concern, though the upcoming MRI will ultimately determine whether he has a realistic shot at playing Week 6 against the Bears.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Sustains rib injury in OT loss
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Penix (ribs) was listed as questionable to return in overtime of Sunday's game against the Ravens, per Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site, and Penix subsequently didn't return to the 30-23 overtime loss.
Penix was injured after taking a big hit on Atlanta's final possession of the fourth quarter. He came back into the game after missing one play and threw an incomplete pass to close out regulation, but Penix was unable to return for overtime. Tua Tagovailoa promptly threw an interception on Atlanta's second offensive play of OT to seal the loss for the Falcons after the Ravens scored to begin the extra session. The oft-injured Penix will try to overcome this latest setback before the Falcons host the Bears in Week 6. He completed 19 of 32 passes for 240 yards and one touchdown while rushing twice for eight yards in the loss to the Ravens.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Highly efficient in big division win
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Penix completed 15 of 20 passes for 223 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and rushed twice for minus-2 yards in the Falcons' 45-24 win over the Saints on Monday night.
Bijan Robinson helped stake the Falcons to a 14-0 lead after one quarter, so Penix immediately had some pressure off his shoulders in only his second start since returning from last year's ACL tear. However, the third-year signal-caller still looked very sharp when called upon, and he essentially left no doubt as to the outcome of the contest when he connected with Jahan Dotson for a 31-yard scoring strike with just under 10 minutes remaining in the contest. Penix spread the ball around to seven different targets overall, and he's now completed 73.3 percent of his passes heading into a Week 5 home showdown against the Ravens on Sunday night.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Stellar in season debut
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Penix completed 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards with one touchdown and one interception while rushing twice for minus-2 yards in the Falcons' 35-14 win over the Packers on Thursday. He also threw a two-point conversion pass.
Playing in his first game since Week 11 of last season, Penix started off sluggishly Thursday before finding a rhythm and putting together a near-flawless performance. Penix threw his one interception four plays into the night on a pass intended for Jahan Dotson, but he went on to record only five more incompletions the rest of the way while connecting with Austin Hooper for a five-yard touchdown pass just before halftime. Penix's chemistry with Drake London was also in fine form over the last three quarters, and he hit his No. 1 target for gains of 68 and 40 yards in the fourth quarter to help close out the upset victory. Penix should only get more comfortable the further removed he is from the third ACL surgery of his playing career, and he'll look to carry over the considerable momentum from his season debut into a Week 4 road divisional showdown against the Saints on Monday, Oct. 5.
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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: 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.
