Michael Penix Jr. is back as the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback because he is finally healthy enough to return from the ACL injury that ended his 2025 season — and Atlanta badly needs a spark after a disastrous 0-2 start.
The Falcons named Penix their starter for the September 24 Thursday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers. It is his first NFL start since tearing the ACL in his left knee against the Carolina Panthers in November 2025.
The move is not simply a case of Atlanta benching Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa originally won the 2026 starting job but suffered an oblique injury before Week 1. Backup Cooper Rush then started the Falcons’ first two games and struggled badly.
Penix has now progressed far enough in his rehabilitation for Atlanta to put the former No. 8 overall draft pick back on the field. [Falcons]
Why Is Michael Penix Jr. Starting?
There are three major reasons:
- Penix has recovered enough from his 2025 ACL surgery to play.
- Atlanta’s offense has been one of the NFL’s least productive through two games.
- Cooper Rush struggled while filling in for the injured Penix and Tagovailoa.
The Falcons began the season 0-2 and failed to run a single offensive play in the red zone during either game. Atlanta scored only 16 total points in losses to Pittsburgh and Carolina. [Falcons]
The situation became particularly difficult after a 34-3 home loss to Carolina in Week 2.
With Penix finally healthy enough to play, Atlanta decided there was little reason to continue with its third-string quarterback.
What Happened To Michael Penix Jr.?
Penix suffered a partially torn ACL in his left knee during Atlanta’s November 16, 2025 game against the Carolina Panthers.
The injury required season-ending surgery and caused him to miss the Falcons’ final seven games.
It was the third major ACL surgery of Penix’s football career. He had previously torn the ACL in his right knee twice while playing college football at Indiana. [Reuters]
The Falcons therefore took a cautious approach to his latest rehabilitation rather than trying to rush him back for the beginning of the 2026 season.
Why Didn’t Michael Penix Start Week 1?
Penix was practicing before the season began, but he did not believe his knee was completely ready for an NFL game.
He was cleared for full-team work late in the preseason after spending much of the offseason participating on a limited basis.
When the Falcons named Tagovailoa their Week 1 starter, Penix acknowledged that he still did not feel physically ready to play at the level he expected of himself.
“I’m not where I want to be right now.”
Penix said he wanted to be fully confident in his strength and movement before returning, particularly because he felt he had returned too quickly from previous knee injuries during college. [Falcons]
Was Tua Tagovailoa The Falcons’ Starting Quarterback?
Yes.
Atlanta signed Tagovailoa during the 2026 offseason after his departure from the Miami Dolphins and held a quarterback competition during training camp.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski named Tagovailoa the starter for Atlanta’s Week 1 game against Pittsburgh after evaluating the quarterbacks throughout the offseason and preseason. [Falcons]
Penix’s injury rehabilitation was a major factor in Atlanta adding another experienced starting quarterback in the first place.
Stefanski had explained during the offseason that Atlanta wanted both competition and insurance while Penix recovered. [Falcons]
Why Isn’t Tua Tagovailoa Starting?
Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury during practice late in Week 1 preparations.
The injury forced Atlanta to change quarterbacks before the season opener.
Tagovailoa also missed the Week 2 game against Carolina and had not returned to full practice participation during the early portion of the following week. [Falcons]
So Penix’s return should not be described simply as the Falcons benching Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa was injured before he ever made his first regular-season start for Atlanta.
Why Did Cooper Rush Start The First Two Games?
Rush was Atlanta’s emergency option because both of the quarterbacks who competed for the starting job were unavailable.
The Falcons signed Rush during training camp while Penix was still limited and Tagovailoa was dealing with an earlier injury.
When Tagovailoa suffered his oblique injury immediately before Week 1 and Penix was not yet ready, Rush became the starter. [Falcons]
He then started again against Carolina because Tagovailoa remained injured and Penix still had not completed his return.
How Badly Did Cooper Rush Play?
Atlanta’s first two games produced very little offensive success.
| Statistic | Cooper Rush Through Week 2 |
|---|---|
| Completions | 22 |
| Attempts | 39 |
| Passing Yards | 229 |
| Touchdowns | 1 |
| Interceptions | 4 |
| Passer Rating | 42.5 |
Rush completed 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Atlanta’s 20-13 Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh.
Things became worse against Carolina. Rush completed 10 of 17 passes for only 86 yards with two interceptions before Stefanski removed him from the game in the third quarter. [Falcons]
Undrafted rookie Jack Strand finished the 34-3 loss.
How Bad Has The Falcons Offense Been?
Atlanta scored just 16 points in its first two games.
Even more strikingly, the Falcons were the only NFL offense that had not reached the red zone through the opening two weeks when the Penix decision was announced. [Falcons]
| Game | Result | Falcons Points |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 at Pittsburgh | Loss, 20-13 | 13 |
| Week 2 vs. Carolina | Loss, 34-3 | 3 |
The quarterback problems also made it difficult for Atlanta to maximize an offense containing Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts.
Penix’s return gives Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees their first opportunity in 2026 to run the offense with the quarterback Atlanta originally drafted as its long-term solution.
Is Michael Penix Healthy Now?
Healthy enough to start, according to the Falcons.
Penix had been increasing his workload for several weeks before Atlanta announced his return.
Rees said Penix was moving well both inside and outside the pocket and had practiced with relatively few limitations.
“He looks sharp, moving well.”
Rees also said Penix appeared confident in his lower-body movement and had continued making progress. [Falcons]
Penix himself repeatedly emphasized that he would return only when he felt capable of protecting himself and executing the complete offense.
Is Michael Penix Now The Falcons’ Permanent Starter?
Atlanta has officially named Penix the starter against Green Bay, but the Falcons have not publicly declared that he owns the job for the remainder of the season regardless of performance and health.
That distinction matters because Atlanta entered the year with an actual quarterback competition between Penix and Tagovailoa.
Stefanski said during the offseason that the starting job would be determined through competition once Penix was healthy. [Falcons]
The circumstances changed because both quarterbacks suffered injuries and Rush was forced into the lineup.
But Penix now has an obvious opportunity to make the position his own. If he plays well, Atlanta would have little reason to move away from the quarterback it drafted eighth overall to be the franchise’s future.
Why Did The Falcons Draft Michael Penix Jr.?
Atlanta selected Penix with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The decision was controversial because the Falcons had signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year contract worth up to $180 million only weeks earlier.
Atlanta explained that it wanted a long-term succession plan at quarterback rather than repeating the uncertainty the organization experienced after Matt Ryan’s departure.
The original plan was for Cousins to start for at least a season or two while Penix developed behind him. [Falcons]
That timeline did not last long.
When Did Michael Penix First Become The Falcons Starter?
The Falcons originally turned to Penix late in the 2024 season.
Cousins had helped Atlanta begin the year 6-3 but then entered a severe slump. Over a five-game stretch he threw only one touchdown and nine interceptions.
Atlanta benched Cousins in December and announced that Penix would start the final three games. [Falcons]
Penix went 1-2 as the starter, with both defeats coming in overtime, and showed enough for the organization to make him its full-time starter entering 2025.
How Did Michael Penix Play In 2025?
Penix started Atlanta’s first nine games in 2025 before suffering the knee injury.
| 2025 Statistic | Michael Penix Jr. |
|---|---|
| Starts | 9 |
| Completions / Attempts | 166 / 276 |
| Completion Percentage | 60.1% |
| Passing Yards | 1,982 |
| Touchdowns | 9 |
| Interceptions | 3 |
| Passer Rating | 88.5 |
His interception rate of 1.1 percent was the lowest in the NFL among qualifying quarterbacks, according to the Falcons. [Falcons]
Penix finished 2025 with a 3-6 record as the starter before the ACL injury ended his season.
What Happened To Kirk Cousins?
Cousins is no longer with Atlanta.
The Falcons’ original quarterback plan changed dramatically after Penix replaced Cousins late in 2024 and then entered 2025 as the starter.
Cousins returned to the lineup after Penix’s season-ending injury in 2025 but did not remain part of Atlanta’s long-term plans.
By the beginning of the 2026 season, Cousins had joined the Las Vegas Raiders, while Atlanta’s quarterback room had been rebuilt around Penix, Tagovailoa, Rush and Strand. [Reuters]
Why Is The Green Bay Game Important For Michael Penix?
The game represents more than simply Penix returning from injury.
Atlanta needs to determine whether Penix can still be the long-term quarterback the organization believed it was drafting in 2024.
He has appeared in only 14 regular-season games and made 12 starts through his first two NFL seasons. His latest knee injury interrupted what was supposed to be his first full year as Atlanta’s established starter.
The Falcons now have an 0-2 record, a new coaching staff and another experienced quarterback in Tagovailoa.
Penix therefore has an opportunity to both stabilize the offense immediately and reinforce his status as Atlanta’s quarterback of the future.
Michael Penix Jr. Return Press Conference
Penix discussed his recovery and how close he was to returning during his September 16 media availability with the Falcons.
Michael Penix Jr. Starting FAQ
Why is Michael Penix Jr. starting for the Falcons?
Penix has recovered enough from the ACL injury that ended his 2025 season, while Atlanta’s offense struggled badly with Cooper Rush during an 0-2 start. The Falcons named Penix the Week 3 starter against Green Bay. [Falcons]
What injury did Michael Penix Jr. have?
Penix suffered a partially torn ACL in his left knee against Carolina in November 2025 and underwent season-ending surgery. [Reuters]
Is this Michael Penix Jr.’s first ACL injury?
No. The 2025 injury led to the third ACL surgery of his football career. He previously suffered two right-knee ACL tears while playing at Indiana.
Why didn’t Penix start the season?
Penix said he was close to returning but did not yet feel 100 percent physically. Atlanta therefore named Tua Tagovailoa its Week 1 starter. [Falcons]
Why isn’t Tua Tagovailoa starting?
Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury during practice before Week 1 and missed Atlanta’s first two games. His injury opened the door for Cooper Rush before Penix became healthy enough to return.
What happened to Cooper Rush?
Rush struggled in two starts, throwing for 229 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. He was benched during Atlanta’s 34-3 loss to Carolina. [Falcons]
Is Penix the Falcons’ starter for the rest of the season?
Atlanta has officially named him the starter against Green Bay. The team has not publicly guaranteed the job for every remaining game, but Penix now has an opportunity to establish himself as the long-term starter the Falcons envisioned when they drafted him No. 8 overall.
How did Michael Penix play in 2025?
Penix completed 60.1 percent of his passes for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions in nine starts before his injury. [Falcons]
When was Michael Penix drafted?
The Falcons selected Penix eighth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft after he led Washington to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
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