If there is good news about the Atlanta Falcons these days, it won’t be in this article I promise. As if it wasn’t bad enough that the Falcons dropped another heartbreaker in a 30-27 loss last Sunday, the fact that it was to the Carolina Panthers makes it even worse. It’s not that the Panthers are awful per se, but they’ve now been swept by them in 2025 and the first time it was a 30-0 blowout.
The Falcons are now 3-7 and their season was pretty much over before they got the injury news on quarterback Michael Penix, Jr.
Penix went down with a knee injury and the initial report wasn’t good.
“ESPN sources: Falcons QB Michael Penix suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury during Sunday’s loss to the Panthers,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter posted after the game. “Penix will be seeking a second opinion, but it is not encouraging.”
He was correct, it’s not encouraging. The Falcons have announced that Penix will indeed be shut down for the season with left-knee surgery.
“After further medical evaluation, it has been determined Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will undergo season-ending surgery for a partially torn ACL,” the team’s statement said.
Falcons have to shuffle quarterbacks with Michael Penix news
Penix wasn’t exactly lighting it up this season, but he wasn’t a disaster either. Through nine games, he threw for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions. That’s not awful and the Falcons are 3-7 for a variety of reasons, but the fact remains that they are 3-7.
So, that means that – you guessed it – Kirk Cousins is your new starting quarterback. It’s the moment we thought could happen all offseason when the trade talk was rampant. They kept him around (okay, mainly because no one wanted to trade for him) in case Penix got hurt or simply stunk up the joint. So, if the Falcons hope to sneak into the playoffs (not happening), it will be on the arm of Cousins. Unless he gets hurt too, then it’s on to Easton Stick.
In a corresponding move, the team signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask to its practice squad where all of their kickers live.
This isn’t Michael Penix’s first injury
Penix does have a bit of an injury history that could be concerning. Actually, if you combine some of his injuries with his play this season, it is a bit troubling as to whether or not he can be the guy moving forward to lead this team.
Matt Skillings of Heavy.com gives us a good overview of the physical damage.
“Penix is unfortunately no stranger to injuries,” writes Skilling. “The 25-year-old suffered two ACL grade three ACL tears in his right knee during his college career and has also suffered two right shoulder injuries that forced him to miss time in college.
“The only good news is that those two ACL tears came in his right knee, while his injury earlier this season as well as this most recent one are in his left knee. Hopefully for Penix, a surgery (if necessary) can completely fix whatever has been aggravated this season and he can make a full recovery.”
That’s good news I guess? All I know is that I wouldn’t want to be Arthur Blank heading into next year. The general manager has to go and head coach Raheem Morris can probably go with him. Now that I think about it, those were pretty easy decisions. Now they just have to decide who will be in charge of Penix in 2026.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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