The Atlanta Falcons have placed quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on injured reserve following surgery to repair his partially torn left ACL, an injury sustained during the team’s 30-27 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers. The team placed Penix on injured reserve on Monday after determining the severity of the injury, opting for surgery after a second opinion. This marks Penix’s fifth season-ending injury in eight years, including previous knee and shoulder issues. With Penix out for the remainder of the season, Kirk Cousins will step in as the team’s starting quarterback.
Head coach Raheem Morris expressed confidence in Penix’s ability to recover, stating, “The one thing we say about Michael is we know what it’s like to be battle-tested, and he’s shown us that before. You know, the last injury was (2021). I believe it was a shoulder. I think the last knee was in (2020), and he’s done nothing but come back stronger every single opportunity he’s been given. And when, you know, I think his famous line was, ‘You know, check his EKG,’ and it’s no different now. Like, the guy is going to come back stronger for us. You know this organization believes in him, his coaches believe in him, his guys believe in him, and he’s going to come back strong for us.”
Penix, 25, left the game in the third quarter of the loss against the Panthers. In his second season in the league, Penix completed just over 60% of his passes for 1,982 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. The Falcons selected Penix with the No. 8 overall pick in the first round of last year’s NFL Draft despite signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in the same offseason. With Penix out, Cousins becomes the team’s starting quarterback.
Cousins, 37, has appeared in three games this season, once as a starter. He is 0-1 in his lone start and has completed 61.5% of his passes for 250 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Cousins will make his second start of the season against the New Orleans Saints (2-8) Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.
As the Falcons look to adjust to Penix’s absence, fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how the team adapts to his injury, particularly with Cousins stepping in as the new starting quarterback. The situation raises questions about the team’s long-term plans and the impact of Penix’s recurring injuries on the franchise’s stability and future success.