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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix.
Matt Ryan is back with the Atlanta Falcons — the team that drafted him third overall in 2008. But even at age 40, and with other quarterbacks around the league attempting comebacks, Ryan is not returning as Atlanta’s quarterback.
Instead, he’s now tasked with helping figure out who will be.
When it comes to stability at the quarterback position in franchise history, Ryan sits on a very short list. He was the last true answer there, as the Falcons have struggled to find a suitable replacement since trading him in 2022.
One of his first responsibilities as the Falcons’ new president of football — a position created specifically for him by owner Arthur Blank — will be identifying that next long-term solution.
It likely won’t be Kirk Cousins, who is expected to be released when the new league year begins on March 11. And it may not be Michael Penix Jr. either, according to SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora.
Falcons’ QB Plans May Go Beyond a Bridge Option
The Falcons are widely viewed as one of the top teams searching for a quarterback this offseason. That’s partly due to Cousins’ expected departure, but also the uncertainty surrounding Penix’s health as he continues recovering from ACL surgery.
However, La Canfora suggests it could go deeper than that.
Rather than simply bringing in a bridge quarterback until Penix is fully healthy, Atlanta may be evaluating the position more aggressively.
“It’s not just going to be a warm body, veteran-minimum type guy, I can promise you that,” one source told La Canfora, who said the individual had knowledge of internal discussions about the quarterback position during the team’s head coaching interviews.
“There are some definite concerns there about Penix taking the next step on several levels. It’s been a lot worse there than people really know.”
Another source added, “Atlanta is looking for a starting quarterback, I know that much. We are definitely looking at them as competition. I think they’re going to be in on everything. It’s not good there with Penix.”
Who that quarterback might be remains unclear, but several notable names could become available this offseason, including Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa.
If there’s any substance to these reports, it’s a significant development — and not an encouraging one for Penix.
Concerns Surrounding Michael Penix Jr. Extend Beyond Health
La Canfora also reported that questions surrounding Penix may not be limited to his health or on-field production.
“Penix’s performance and leadership has fallen under question in Atlanta, and, according to sources with knowledge of the process, as Ryan led the hunt for a new head coach and began probing as to why Penix has not developed as expected, several troubling trends emerged,” La Canfora wrote.
“Penix felt the need to apologize to his teammates at times last season for his sideline demeanor and actions, though displays of poor body language and decision making continued through the season…”
While Penix was a seasoned veteran at the college level and will be 26 by the start of the season, he still has limited NFL experience.
In two seasons, he has appeared in 14 games, making 12 starts and posting a 4-8 record. Last season provided his most extended opportunity, as he threw for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions before his year was derailed by his third ACL injury.
Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker
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