Through the first eight starts of Michael Penix Jr.’s NFL career, the flashes were undeniable. He showcased the arm talent, anticipation, pocket presence and late-game poise that made him the No. 8 overall pick, while still showing the growing pains of a young quarterback.
Part 1 covered Penix’s NFL career from the earliest of stages. Now, Part 2 examines the biggest setback of his career that put his future as the Falcons’ franchise quarterback in question.
Penix Jr. Career Breakdown In Atlanta
ACL Injury Timeline
Penix Jr.’s injury history dates back to his college days at Indiana. His true freshman season ended with a torn right ACL against Penn State. The following year, he dislocated the SC joint in his non-throwing shoulder, cutting his redshirt freshman season short. In 2020, Penix re-tore his right ACL against Maryland before a separated throwing shoulder ended his 2021 season—and ultimately his time with the Hoosiers.
Penix then transferred to Washington, where he finally stayed healthy and put together a phenomenal two-year run. He led the Huskies to the National Championship and finished runner-up to Jayden Daniels in the Heisman Trophy race. After two healthy seasons, it appeared Penix’s injury concerns were behind him.
So we thought.
Game 9: Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers | Year 2, Week 7 | 20-10 L
The Falcons’ winning streak came to an end in San Francisco in a primetime matchup against Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers. Ahead of the game, San Francisco’s defense had taken significant hits, losing Nick Bosa and Fred Warner to season-ending injuries in the weeks prior. Still, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh did a phenomenal job getting the most out of a depleted unit. The 49ers finished 2025 ranked 20th in total defense, 25th against the pass and 13th in scoring. Considering the personnel San Francisco lost and the players forced into larger roles, Saleh’s defense greatly exceeded expectations. His performance in 2025 ultimately helped earn him the Tennessee Titans’ head coaching job.
All in all, Penix played a relatively clean game, completing 21-of-38 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown. His biggest mistake came early when a free blitzer came untouched from his blind side and strip-sacked him. Penix never had much of a chance on the play, and that became the story of the night: Atlanta was outcoached, pressure consistently got home and key penalties and clock-management mistakes stalled the offense. Zac Robinson had no answer for Saleh’s pressure packages or San Francisco’s second-half adjustments.
One line from my film-study notes sums up the biggest problem: “Bryce Huff is embarrassing Elijah Wilkinson.” Wilkinson was forced to start at right tackle after Kaleb McGary suffered a season-ending injury in training camp. With Penix being left-handed, the right side of Atlanta’s offensive line protects his blind side, making Wilkinson’s struggles even more damaging. Penix took multiple hits from that side and began showing signs of discomfort in his left knee—the same knee he would later injure to end his season. In hindsight, this game provided an early warning sign of what was to come.
The constant pressure dictated how Atlanta had to play offensively. The Falcons were forced to lean heavily on the quick passing game because Penix rarely had enough time to let routes develop downfield, while Bijan Robinson struggled to sustain success on the ground. Clock management was also a problem yet again. Penix took a costly intentional-grounding penalty late in the first half, and the offense compounded its issues with a delay of game immediately after taking a sack.
It’s difficult to put this loss on Penix. Atlanta’s clock-management issues had been apparent throughout 2024 and 2025 under Raheem Morris, while Zac Robinson and the offensive line failed to provide Penix with many answers against Saleh’s defense. Penix wasn’t perfect, but he played well considering how much was going wrong around him. More importantly, this game exposed many of the problems that would eventually fuel conversations about moving on from Morris and Robinson in 2026.
Game 10: Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots | Year 2, Week 9 | 24-23 L
That lingering leg injury suffered against the 49ers sidelined Penix for Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins. Without Penix or an injured Drake London, the Falcons were routed 34-10 with Kirk Cousins leading the offense. Penix returned the following week against a stout Patriots defense that ranked eighth in total defense, ninth against the pass and fourth in scoring.
With Penix and London back, their connection immediately picked up where it left off. Penix went 22-of-37 for 221 yards and three touchdowns, while London hauled in nine passes for 118 yards and caught all three of the Falcons scores. Penix repeatedly trusted London in the end zone, connecting on three fades with excellent ball placement. New England recorded just one sack, but the pressure was relentless throughout the game and Penix continued to take hits.
Despite the pressure and several costly penalties, Atlanta battled back late. The Falcons pulled within an extra point of tying the game, only for John Parker Romo to miss wide left, forcing the defense to make a stop and give Penix one final opportunity.
On the final drive, however, Penix made a costly young-quarterback mistake. An unexpected snap caught him off guard, and while attempting to kill the play near Robinson, Penix threw the ball into the dirt on the opposite side of his running back. He was flagged for intentional-grounding, putting Atlanta behind the chains and ultimately helping kill the drive.
The Falcons made too many mistakes to win, but Penix delivered another encouraging performance against one of the league’s better defenses. Once again, costly penalties and special teams miscues overshadowed a strong showing from the young quarterback.
Game 11: Atlanta Falcons at Indianapolis Colts (Germany) | Year 2, Week 10 | 31-25 (OT) L
After traveling to Foxborough, the Falcons headed overseas to Germany to face the red-hot 8-2 Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis finished the season 23rd in total defense, 30th against the pass and 20th in scoring, though those numbers fell off considerably after Daniel Jones’ injury. Much like Week 3 against Carolina, this was a tale of two halves for Penix, who finished just 12-of-28 for 177 yards and one touchdown.
The game couldn’t have started much worse. On the opening play, Kyle Pitts dropped a perfectly placed deep ball from Penix that had a chance to go for a touchdown. One play later, an untouched blitzer drilled Penix from his blind side, forcing a fumble.
Atlanta responded, punching in a Tyler Allgeier touchdown on its next possession before Penix connected with Drake London on a beautiful layered throw for another score late in the first half. Penix was under constant duress, though, absorbing hit after hit and noticeably getting up slower as the game progressed.
The second half was one to forget. Penix’s accuracy deteriorated as he repeatedly missed open receivers, often leaving throws well short of his targets. Entering the game already banged up, then continuing to take punishment, appeared to limit his ability to elevate Atlanta’s passing attack.
His saving grace came on a go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter. Penix suddenly found his rhythm, going 4-of-4 before connecting with London on the two-point conversion to give Atlanta a three-point lead. He attacked the middle of the field with anticipation, took what the defense gave him and put his earlier struggles behind him. Regardless of how poorly the game had gone, Penix once again showed an ability to deliver when it mattered most.
Indianapolis responded with a game-tying field goal, leaving Atlanta less than 30 seconds to get into field-goal range. Penix appeared to find Darnell Mooney wide open for a potential chunk gain, but Mooney dropped the pass, and the Falcons let the remaining clock expire.
Atlanta won the overtime toss, giving Penix his first opportunity to win a game in the extra period. The possession went nowhere. Robinson received just one carry, while London and Pitts weren’t targeted. Penix underthrew Mooney along the sideline, led him too far out of bounds on another attempt and eventually took a sack. Indianapolis responded with a walk-off touchdown.
Outside of his Week 3 performance against Carolina, this was arguably the worst game of Penix’s young career.
Game 12: Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers | Year 2, Week 11 | 30-27 (OT) L
Finally, we’ve reached the most recent game of Penix’s career—a rematch against the Panthers team that embarrassed him earlier in the season. As mentioned earlier, Carolina’s defense took a significant step forward from 2024 to 2025, ranking near the middle of the league in total defense, passing defense and scoring. Penix was considerably better in the rematch, completing 13-of-16 passes for 175 yards.
Atlanta’s offense dominated the first half, jumping out to a 21-10 lead. Penix operated the offense with ease as the Falcons consistently marched up and down the field. The rushing attack complemented the passing game perfectly, allowing Penix to distribute the ball to his weapons.
It was classic Penix—throwing with anticipation, flashing his arm talent and showcasing his connection with his targets. Coming off a disastrous second half against Indianapolis and facing a team that humiliated him earlier in the season, Penix responded with a nearly flawless first half.
Penix left the field with Atlanta leading 21-7 and less than two minutes remaining in the half. By the time the offense returned, Carolina had cut the lead to 21-16. A late Panthers field goal followed by Natrone Brooks fumbling the opening kickoff of the second half quickly turned a potential blowout into a tight game.
Atlanta’s first possession of the second half saw Penix scramble for a solid gain before Mooney dropped another pass. Then, on third down, immediate pressure broke through and Penix was sacked. That play would end his season, as Penix suffered a partially torn left ACL.
Kirk Cousins replaced him, and the Falcons eventually lost in overtime, squandering the lead Penix had helped build. What began as one of Penix’s cleanest performances of the season ended with another devastating injury—and another major question surrounding his future.
The Case for Penix Jr.
That’s the entirety of Michael Penix Jr.’s NFL career thus far: just 11 and a half games, roughly two-thirds of a full season. Yet, the league already seems ready to move on from the former No. 8 overall pick. Atlanta brought in Tua Tagovailoa, and suddenly, the conversation shifted toward handing him the keys and putting Penix in the rearview mirror. The narrative is that Penix can’t play consistent football. The tape tells a different story.
Penix truly struggled for two stretches: the second half against Indianapolis and the second half of his first matchup with Carolina. Outside of those performances, he has flashed several traits that premier NFL quarterbacks possess. He throws with anticipation, has the arm to attack every level of the field and understands how to play to the strengths of his pass catchers. He’s willing to absorb a hit to deliver a throw, operates comfortably from the pocket and has a lightning-quick release. His best trait, however, may be his ability to attack outside the hashes. Time and again, Penix also elevated his play when it mattered most, displaying the clutch ability teams desperately want from their quarterback.
The connection Penix developed with Drake London in 2025 showed how dangerous the pairing could become. Asking London to build another connection with another “bridge quarterback” risks a regressive season. Outside of London, Penix lacked consistency at wide receiver. Ray-Ray McCloud III, a pivotal piece in 2024, missed significant time before surprisingly parting ways with the team midseason. Darnell Mooney suffered a broken collarbone during training camp, and his production dropped considerably in 2025.
The problems extended beyond the receiving corps. Morris’ staff consistently struggled with clock management, while first-year play-caller Zac Robinson endured his share of growing pains. Atlanta also lost its starting blindside tackle for the season, forcing Penix to play behind shaky protection. Elijah Wilkinson’s struggles in pass protection were repeatedly exposed and directly contributed to the punishment Penix absorbed throughout the year.
Penix was far from perfect. His accuracy over the middle could become inconsistent, particularly when his first read wasn’t available. At times, he became frantic under pressure and made young-quarterback mistakes, including costly intentional-grounding penalties. While generally comfortable in the pocket, he also struggled at times to sense pressure and diagnose blitzes before the snap.
If the concern with Penix is his health, that’s completely understandable. His injury history is impossible to ignore. From a film perspective, however, there has been far more to like than dislike.
The NFL has been spoiled by an exceptional run of young quarterbacks. Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, C.J. Stroud, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels all contributed at a high level early in their careers. But those players are the exception, not the standard. Expecting every young quarterback to immediately reach that level creates an unrealistic timeline for development.
Tagovailoa struggled in the preseason opener against Denver, and Penix has finally been cleared for 11-on-11. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has remained positive about his recovery, saying Penix is “ahead of schedule” or “right where he needs to be.” Atlanta’s quarterback competition should really start to ramp up
Eleven and a half games shouldn’t be enough to close the book on Penix Jr. The injuries are concerning, and the flaws in his game are real, but so is the talent he has already put on tape. If Atlanta’s new regime is willing to invest in his development and give him a legitimate opportunity to win the job, Penix still has every chance—health permitting—to become the franchise quarterback the Falcons have been searching for.
Main Image: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
