FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — A second opinion confirmed Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s left-knee injury is severe enough that he'll miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
The Falcons released a statement Monday that Penix will be placed on injured reserve, which would have required he miss a minimum of four games. Any questions regarding the severity of his injury and whether he could later make a return, however, were tabled until Penix received a second opinion. Those answers came Wednesday with another statement from the Falcons.
"After further medical evaluation, it has been determined Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will undergo season-ending surgery for a partially torn ACL," the statement read.
Kirk Cousins will be the Falcons' quarterback moving forward, starting with Sunday's Week 12 game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome.
Easton Stick will presumably be the backup. He has been on the Falcons' practice squad as the emergency third quarterback.
"The thing that's on the top of my mind the most is how (Penix is) feeling and how he's doing," Stick said Monday. "That's a tough, tough deal however it turns out.
"But yeah, Sunday looks different. Outside of Sunday, not much changes."
Cousins, along with head coach Raheem Morris, are scheduled to address the media Wednesday.
The Falcons are 3-7 overall and 0-3 in the NFC South. According to the New York Times’ simulator, Atlanta has less than a 1% chance to make the playoffs. There are seven games left on the schedule.
"Obviously, it hurts your heart when your quarterback goes down," Morris said Monday. "Anybody in your football team, any of you guys, that's definitely always one of those things that's going to be harmful.
"But you got to recenter, you got to focus. You got to go with the next-man-up mentality. You got to lean on other people, other places, to be able to go find a way to get those things done."
Penix ultimately finishes out his second season having completed 166 of his 276 passes for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions in nine starts. That averages out to a 60.1% completion rate for 220.2 yards per game.
Penix missed the Falcons' Week 8 loss to the Miami Dolphins due to a bone bruise in his left knee. Morris did not know whether Penix's injuries are related even though they occurred in the same knee.
The Falcons drafted Penix with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. When he arrived in Atlanta, the plan was for Penix to develop as a rookie behind Cousins. That plan changed come Week 16, though, due to performance issues from Cousins. Penix then started the final three games and maintained the QB1 status into 2025.
Penix dealt with multiple knee injuries in college. Those, however, were in his right knee.
"Just hurting for the young man," Morris said. "We'll move forward."
