Any shot the Atlanta Falcons‘ had of finding their way into the postseason likely vanished in Week 11 when they suffered a 30-27 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers. Not only did they lose the game, but they also lost starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to a partially torn ACL, which led to an eye-opening admission from head coach Raheem Morris recently.
Penix has a long history of ACL injuries, and with surgery needed once again, he will have to spend the next nine months or so working his way back to full health. Given his inconsistent play in 2025, there are a lot of questions swirling around Penix’s future with the Falcons, and they certainly won’t be going away after Morris’ latest comments.
Raheem Morris Gets Real on Challenge of Michael Penix Jr.’s Injury
Penix was handed the keys to the Falcons’ offense in 2025, but he struggled to prove that he can be the team’s quarterback of the future. In nine starts, Penix threw for 1,982 yards and nine touchdowns, but he also committed seven turnovers (three interceptions, four fumbles), with his performance often varying greatly on a week-to-week basis.
Considering how Atlanta selected Penix with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which came just months after it handed Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract in free agency, it’s clear this team believes in him. There are several problems that come with Penix, though, with one of them being his lengthy injury history.
A long and grueling injury rehab awaits Penix after he undergoes yet another ACL surgery, and it could result in him missing the start of the 2026 season. As a result, Morris admitted that the Falcons may have to consider some alternative options at the quarterback position once the offseason eventually arrives.
“You definitely have to go out and make some different plans when you talk about the offseason, but we’ll talk about that and address that when we get there,” Morris said when addressing Penix’s injury. “Right now we’ve got to prepare for the New Orleans Saints, and that’s what we’ll do. That’s always got to be something that’s on your mind, regardless, and definitely puts it on your mind a little bit more when this happens.”
What Does the Future Hold for Michael Penix Jr.?
GettyMichael Penix Jr. of the Atlanta Falcons
It’s still very early in his career, but the Falcons have to at least begin preparing for the possibility that Penix is not their quarterback of the future. He will turn 26 years old in May, has a slew of injury issues, and hasn’t really been all that productive during his time on the field. The cost of cutting ties with Penix so soon would be high, but it would be an even bigger problem if the team commits to him, only for his struggles to continue.
This is the big question that will hover around Atlanta for the next few months. In the meantime, the team will focus on playing out the string in 2025, with the most expensive backup quarterback in NFL history, Cousins, taking over under center. The good news is that the Falcons have a good shot at getting back in the win column in Week 12, as a matchup against the New Orleans Saints awaits them on Sunday afternoon.
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