Falcons quarterback will miss rest of season due to ACL injury

The Atlanta Falcons announced that quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn ACL.

The team placed Penix on injured reserve Monday with a left knee injury while trying to determine how serious his injury was. After a second opinion, the Falcons opted for surgery.

Penix’s latest injury is his fifth season-ending injury in eight seasons in college and the NFL. The 25-year-old tore his right ACL twice in college.

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. walks off the field after a game against the Carolina Panthers in Atlanta on Nov. 16, 2025. (Brynn Anderson/AP Photo)

“The one thing we say about Michael is that we know what it’s like to be tested in battle, and he’s shown us that before,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said of Penix during a news conference Wednesday.

“You know, the last injury was (2021). I think it was a shoulder. I think his last knee was in (2020), and he’s done nothing but come back stronger every chance he’s been given. And when, you know, I think his famous line was, ‘You know, check his EKG,’ and now it’s no different. The guy will come back stronger for us. You know this organization believes in him, his coaches believe in him, his guys believe in him, and he’s going to come back stronger for us. us”.

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Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) in the first half against the Carolina Panthers in Atlanta on Nov. 16, 2025. (Mike Stewart/AP Photo)

Penix left the team’s 30-27 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in the third quarter. In his second season in the league, Penix completed just over 60% of his passes for 1,982 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions.

The Falcons selected Penix with the eighth overall pick in the first round of last year’s NFL Draft despite signing Kirk Cousins ​​to a four-year, $180 million contract the same offseason. With Penix out, Cousins ​​becomes the team’s starting quarterback.

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​(18) passes against the Carolina Panthers in the second half in Atlanta on Nov. 16, 2025. (Brynn Anderson/AP Photo)

Cousins, 37, has appeared in three games this season, one as a starter. He is 0-1 in his only start and has completed 61.5% of his passes for 250 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Cousins ​​will make his second start of the season against the New Orleans Saints (2-8) on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.

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