Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. willundergo season-ending full reconstructive knee surgeryfor a partially torn ACL, the team announced Wednesday. This is Penix's fifth season-ending injury dating back to college.
After further medical evaluation, it has been determined Michael Penix Jr. will undergo season-ending surgery for a partially torn ACLhttps://t.co/uDlJqJ17xEpic.twitter.com/VC0TvTNpt2
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons)November 19, 2025
Ian Rapoport ofNFL Network reported the timeline for Penix's ACL surgerywill put his return close to the start of the 2026 NFL season. With the normal recovery time for the injury being around nine months, Penix could return to the field around mid-August. Atlanta will need a backup plan if it isn't going to be Kirk Cousins. Atlantasigned former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask to the practice squad following the announcementof Penix's season-ending injury. The team has alsoelevated former Chargers quarterback Easton Stickto the active roster.
Penix left Sunday's loss to Carolina in the third quarter after being hit on an incomplete pass. He was13-of-16 with 175 passing yards at the time of the injury. Cousins came in to finish the game as the Falcons lost in overtime, 30-27. Penix had already missed a game earlier this season with a bone bruise in his left knee.
In his second NFL season and first as a full-time starter, Penix's season ends with a 3-6 record, having completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,982 yards, 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Penix was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and took over for Cousins permanently in Week 16 of his rookie campaign.
Four ofPenix's five season-ending injuries came in college, two of which were also ACL tearswhile playing at Indiana from 2018-21. Penix then transferred to Washington, where he played from 2022-23.
Atlanta still has the veteran Cousins under contract for a few more years, as he signed with the team as a free agent in 2024, just a couple of months before Penix was drafted. The Falcons gave Cousins $100 million guaranteed, then drafted his replacement in the same offseason. Leading up to the trade deadline earlier this month, there were rumors about the Falcons moving Cousins, but that did not come to fruition. Seeing how this season is playing out, that may have been for the best. Cousins will take over the starting role once again for Atlanta.
The 3-7 Falcons will take on the 2-8 New Orleans Saints in Week 12 at the Caesars Superdome at 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday.
