Falcons fans, breathe easy: Michael Penix Jr. is “feeling better,” and it looks like he is on track to start Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Head coach Kevin Stefanski gave the positive update Wednesday, saying if “everything goes according to plan,” their QB will be under center, a huge sigh of relief after a rough Week 5 finish.
That Week 5 Scare and Why It Mattered
Remember Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens? Penix Jr. took a brutal hit, getting sacked by Tavius Robinson with about 19 seconds left in regulation. He fumbled, the Falcons recovered, but the dude was clearly banged up, suffering a rib injury that forced him to miss the very next play. He tough it out and returned for one more snap, throwing an incompletion before the punt. But when the game went to overtime, Penix Jr. was done. Tua Tagovailoa stepped in, and on the Ravens’ opening drive score, Tua tossed a game-clinching interception. The Falcons lost 30-23. It was a gut punch, and the worry immediately shifted to Penix’s ribs. Now, Stefanski says Penix will practice, albeit “limited in some fashion,” with reps to be determined based on how he is feeling and moving around. It’s not a full-go yet, but it’s way better than what we thought Sunday night.
Penix Jr. Is The Difference Maker For Atlanta
Let’s be real, the dude has been a revelation since coming back as the starter in Week 3. Atlanta started the season 0-2 with Cooper Rush at quarterback, looking lost. Then Penix Jr. stepped back in, making a night-and-day difference, even after working his way back from a torn ACL last year. The Falcons are 2-1 under him, and the offense is humming: averaging 34.3 points and a staggering 428.3 total yards per game. His stats speak for themselves: 67.5 CMP%, 719 YDs, 3 TDs, and only 1 INT with a 9.34 YD/Att. So, yeah, likely having him back for the Chicago game is absolutely massive. It is a big development for their hopes of staying firmly in the NFC South race.
Penix Jr.’s status is still day-to-day as they see how he feels on the field, but the expectation is for him to lead the charge this Sunday against the Bears. The Falcons need him, and if he’s feeling good, this team has a real shot to keep that winning momentum going and solidify their spot in the division. We’ll be watching how those reps shake out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply