The Atlanta Falcons entered Sunday’s matchup against the Carolina Panthers in desperate need of a win, due to a four-game skid and a 3-6 record. However, a troubling injury occurred as Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. exited the game in the third quarter.
NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that Penix Jr. left the game to receive an evaluation from the Falcons’ medical personnel. Schefter later shared an update that Penix Jr. was “questionable” to return due to a knee injury.
The Falcons led the game 21-19 to start the fourth quarter. Penix had thrown 13-of-16 completions for 175 yards, with no sacks or interceptions before his exit. He’s had a steady season throwing for 1,807 yards and nine touchdowns, but has a 53.7 QBR, ranking him 19th amongst quarterbacks.
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With the apparent injury, Kirk Cousins was warming up as the Falcons’ backup option, in a game they’d been leading when Penix Jr. exited for the medical tent. It’s the 37-year-old Cousins’ second season with the Falcons. He previously appeared in 14 games for them in 2024, posting a 7-7 record. The former Washington QB also recorded a career-high 16 interceptions during that season.
A video clip arrived on X showing the moment Penix Jr. suffered his injury. During the play, a defender was taking Penix Jr. down, and Penix Jr. appeared to fall backward awkwardly onto his flexed knee.
The individual who posted the X video suggested this could be a Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) injury for Penix Jr., indicating it was his left leg and the one he pushes off with to throw that he injured his knee on.
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Losing Penix Jr. for an extended time could be a significant concern for a Falcons team that still had a chance to climb back to .500 with a string of victories. However, the team benched him in favor of backup quarterback Kirk Cousins earlier this season, during a blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Penix Jr. is in his second season since getting drafted by the Falcons at No. 8 in the 2024 NFL Draft. He played in five games last season, starting three, and achieved a 1-2 record in those starts.
The team’s four-game losing streak included two close losses, including a 31-25 defeat to the Miami Dolphins and a 24-23 loss to New England the week before. However, Penix Jr. led the Falcons to a stunning 24-14 victory over Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills earlier in the season.
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