Michael Penix’s Long-Awaited Start with the Falcons

As the Falcons headed into their Thursday Night Football matchup against the Green Bay Packers with an 0-2 record, you might have found yourself questioning the decision to showcase Atlanta in primetime once again.

Having covered the Falcons for 14 years, I’ve seen many rough starts to their seasons. However, the narrative surrounding this team can overlook some crucial details. Let’s dive into the ongoing saga of the Falcons’ quarterback situation in 2026 and why it’s significant that Michael Penix is getting the start in Week 3.

Why was Michael Penix Jr. sidelined?

The Falcons selected Penix with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft from the University of Washington. They had high hopes for him to become the franchise quarterback, a position Atlanta has struggled to solidify since an unsuccessful trade attempt for Deshaun Watson led to a major resetting of the roster and a trade involving now-Falcons president Matt Ryan.

The expectation was that Penix would have time to develop and adapt to the professional game while the team relied on veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who was signed after recovering from an Achilles injury. Unfortunately, Cousins was not in as good health as anticipated, leading to Penix starting five games during his rookie year. He secured the starting position in 2025 but had to relinquish it after suffering a season-ending ACL injury, which was his third such incident requiring reconstructive surgery.

Although Penix was cleared to play before the last preseason game, he mentioned during Week 2 that he hadn’t met certain physical benchmarks required for full-speed contact, leading to his absence in the first two weeks. However, he was officially named the starting quarterback for Week 3 against the Packers.

What was the Falcons’ quarterback strategy for this season?

The Falcons did have a quarterback plan for the season, even though uncertainties surrounded Penix’s recovery timeline. They signed Tua Tagovailoa as an experienced backup, planning for him to fill in if needed, with Trevor Siemian on standby given both their injury histories. But the first day of training camp turned their plans upside down.

Penix was still not fully cleared, Tagovailoa suffered from back spasms, and Siemian ended up waived due to injury. This left the Falcons with only one healthy quarterback on the, well, chaotic first day of practice: rookie Jack Strand, who went undrafted. They quickly signed Cooper Rush to provide depth.

Throughout training camp and the preseason, Tagovailoa, Rush, and Strand took most of the snaps with Penix sidelined. When Penix wasn’t ready for Week 1, Tagovailoa started but sustained an oblique injury, prompting a switch to Rush. Unfortunately, Rush had his own issues, injuring his back just before the team’s last practice prior to the game.

Despite this, Rush started against the Steelers and his performance was underwhelming. In Week 2 versus the Panthers, he again struggled, leading to a decision to bench him in favor of Strand, who had little preparation for the role.

So, here we are, approaching Week 3 with Thursday Night Football against the Packers.

What can we expect from Michael Penix against the Packers?

This is certainly the burning question as we head into the game.

In training camp, the team creatively prepared Penix for the pass rush without risking his health, using an exercise ball to simulate defensive pressure. He has had starter reps in practice leading up to the game, with the medical staff confident in his knee’s reconstruction. However, it’s only natural to wonder if he might still be feeling the effects of past injuries.

The Packers have been formidable, racking up seven sacks in their first two games, ranking them near the top of the league in terms of defensive pressure and forcing negative-yardage plays. The Falcons’ offensive line is still adjusting, especially after the retirement of veteran tackle Kaleb McGary. Jawaan Taylor, who was brought in this offseason to fill that gap, has had his own injury issues but is set to return. The crucial question is whether he’ll be fully fit to face the Packers’ pass rush.

Another adjustment for the line? They now need to protect Penix, who is left-handed, after accommodating right-handed quarterbacks for the first part of the season. It’ll be intriguing to see how that dynamic affects the team’s performance. If Penix doesn’t finish the game, Tagovailoa will be available, minimizing further adjustments if things go south, which, let’s be honest, is always a possibility with the Falcons.

On a more optimistic note, Penix is well-rested given the short week, and there’s no game tape on him in this particular offensive scheme. He has a stronger arm than Rush, which might mean we see more deep passes taking advantage of receivers like Drake London and Kyle Pitts. This in turn could create more opportunities for Bijan Robinson.

Will Penix outperform Rush’s lackluster start? It’s difficult to believe he could do worse.

However, I do have my concerns. The speed of the game could catch Penix off guard since he hasn’t played since November 2025. While I’m not too worried about the knee injury, I do worry he might be a step slow or rusty, which could lead to new injuries.

But at some point, the band-aid has to come off. If Penix can help the Falcons avoid an 0-3 start, it’ll be worth it.