ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons have announced that Michael Penix Jr. will make his first start at quarterback in Thursday night’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers. This decision comes as the Falcons’ offense has struggled, highlighting an urgent need for improved production at the quarterback position.
Penix Focuses on Recovery Goals Ahead of 2024 Season
Michael Penix Jr., selected as the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 draft, is currently focused on his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. The injury sidelined him for the entire 2025 season. On Wednesday, Penix stated that he is working on ‘a couple technical things’ and has set specific goals he wants to achieve before returning to game action.
Very little has gone well for an offense that has scored a combined 16 points in two losses, but the running game remains the biggest reason to believe a recovery is possible. Bijan Robinson ran for 72 yards and Brian Robinson added 51 yards against Carolina. The Falcons averaged 4.9 yards per carry while rushing for 157 yards.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday “I have a decent idea of where we’re going” at quarterback this week. In a possible indication a change was coming, Stefanski said he wanted to tell the team before announcing his plan later Monday. “I talk to Mike every day and and like I’ve told you guys up I’m very confident in our discussions with Mike, with medical, throughout this entire process,” Stefanski said. Stefanski said Monday that Tagovailoa is “Getting better. Stefanski said Pitts’ limited role does not reflect the team’s plan for the tight end. “Kyle’s a big part of what we do,” Stefanski said. “I know the production hasn’t been there for him or our offense in the first two games, but that’s not indicative of what we have planned with Kyle because he’s a good football player.”
Stefanski has been supportive of Penix’s recovery schedule. We’ll work through what that means for this week, but definitely getting better.
