Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. Suffers Potential Season-Ending Injury

Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury during a loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The injury occurred with 5:22 left in the third quarter as Penix attempted to pass, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Penix will seek a second opinion on the injury.

Penix completed 13 of 16 passes for 175 yards before the injury. After being hit, he struggled to stand and ultimately fell to the ground, removing his helmet in visible distress. This marks the second knee injury for Penix this season; he previously missed a game due to a left knee bone bruise sustained in Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers.

The 25-year-old quarterback has a troubled history with injuries, having suffered four season-ending injuries during his college career, including two torn ACLs in 2018 and 2020. This season, Penix has completed 60.1% of his passes for a total of 1,982 yards, 11 touchdowns, and three interceptions.

With Penix sidelined, veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins will take over the starting role for the Falcons. Cousins replaced Penix during the game and finished with 6 of 14 passes for 48 yards. The Falcons, now at 3-7 for the season, face mounting challenges as they attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The team signed Cousins to a $100 million guaranteed contract in 2024, but the focus shifted to Penix when he was selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 draft. Falcons management believed they were securing a bright future with both quarterbacks, but now face uncertainty with Penix’s health and performance.