The Atlanta Falcons are staring down possible quarterback hell. This all comes on the heels of negative injury news last year when in early November, Michael Penix Jr. The team’s starting quarterback suffered a torn left ACL during the third quarter of their Week 11 match against the Carolina Panthers. With this setback, Penix Jr. plans to undergo surgery soon in Los Angeles, marking a pivotal moment in his career and the franchise’s quest for success.
Penix Jr. Penix Jr. Penix Jr. It hasn’t been an easy road for him thus far. The Falcons currently hold a disappointing 3-7 record, and Penix Jr.’s absence for the remainder of the season raises questions about the team’s future direction. This injury is the third time that Penix Jr. has torn an ACL. He had the same type of injuries to his right knee while playing at the collegiate level.
Despite the challenges ahead, including the potential for a lengthy recovery process, Coach Raheem Morris remains optimistic about Penix Jr.’s resilience. Morris pointed out that given Penix Jr.’s previous experiences with ACL injuries, he will likely have an advantage through rehab. “That’s just a part of it, right? You always think about that’s just part of it. That’s our job. Our job is winning and that’s what we’re supposed to do and that’s always going to be something that we can talk about,” Morris stated, acknowledging the team’s ongoing challenges.
The Falcons went all in on improving their quarterback room this 2024 offseason. They couldn’t have landed Kirk Cousins and Penix Jr. This strategic investment had perhaps the greatest chance of finally revitalizing a role that’s been a source of frustration across many seasons. General Manager Terry Fontenot is in his fifth season with the team. Since dealing aging quarterback Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts after the 2021 season, he’s yet to parlay any of that equity into a winning record or a playoff appearance for the franchise. For context, the Falcons haven’t made the playoffs since 2017. It leaves them with the second-longest active postseason drought in the NFL.
Is the franchise in a process of rebuilding. Penix Jr. has an outside shot of coming back as the starter in 2026. His recovery timeline is still very much in question and could have implications not just for when he returns but for what the team does beyond that. The Falcons can get $32.5 million in cap relief if they make Cousins a post-June 1 release in 2026. This action would have major implications for their fiscal policy. This roster liquidity will be even more crucial for future roster decisions as Fontenot continues to try to make sausage in an even more difficult landscape with no first-rounder.
Coach Morris accepted the changes that need to be made, given Penix Jr’s injury situation. “You’ve definitely got to go and make some different plans,” he commented, emphasizing the need for strategic adaptations as the team moves forward without their starting quarterback.
The chaotic present reality for the Falcons marks the latest chapter in a longer story of disarray that has followed the club. They are dealing with a not-quite-right quarterback and multiple near-miss playoff scenarios. Their potential for long-term success now proceeds to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee. The team will need to carefully consider its options moving forward while simultaneously supporting Penix Jr. through his recovery process.
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