FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — For one of the first times since he suffered a season-ending knee injury, Michael Penix Jr. has gone on record about his experience, where he is in his recovery as well as his thoughts on the hiring of Kevin Stefanski.
Sitting down with Kay Adams on Radio Row at the Super Bowl media circuit, Penix said he is in a good spot in terms of his rehab.
"I am doing real good right now. I just met with my doctor (Thursday)," Penix said. "... We are starting to get things going. I am doing a lot of strengthening and stuff right now. I know I will be back and ready whenever the time comes."
Penix underwent ACL surgery at the beginning of November. This is Penix's third ACL surgery, the other two on the other knee. In all actuality, Penix explained, that's been a leg up on his recovery process (no pun intended).
"I knew what to expect," Penix told Adams. "This is my third time going through it now, so I kind of knew what to expect. I knew how to attack the rehab process so that I can be better."
When Adams pressed Penix on his timeline to return, he agreed that getting the all-clear for Week 1 was "absolutely" the goal.
As he is working to get back to field, though, he is simultaneously building a new relationship with his head coach. Penix said the day Stefanski took the job in Atlanta, he gave Penix a call.
"For me, I am a family oriented guy and I love my family and the people around me. ... He asked me about my family and I was excited to hear him ask me about that, and it wasn't just straight to football," Penix said. "He wanted to really get to know me as a person."
Then, of course, they got into football thereafter. Penix concluded by saying Stefanski's system is one he is looking forward to operating in.
"I hear nothing but great things about the offense," he said. "I hear that this offense is going to bring the best out of me and allow me to play very good football, so I look forward to it."
