Michael Penix Jr. Injury Could Derail Falcons Amid Quarterback Uncertainty

The Atlanta Falcons fell to 3-7 after a Week 11 divisional loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

But that’s not where the bad news ends for the Falcons.

It sounds like the second career season for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. could be cut short due to a potential season-ending knee surgery. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Penix will seek a second opinion. However, Kirk Cousins is set up to take the reins of the Falcons again.

The Falcons do not have their own first-round pick. They traded it during April’s NFL Draft to the Los Angeles Rams so they could select Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce Jr.

While he’s helped Atlanta flip the script on their defensive woes from last season, the Falcons only have three wins, and they are going to be without their starting quarterback. They are effectively setting the Rams up with an ideal draft pick in 2026.

Penix’s draft selection always felt a bit strange, especially because it came on the heels of giving Cousins a sizable four-year contract in free agency. Both Cousins and Penix arrived in Atlanta in 2024. Penix has only made 12 starts. Cousins has made 15 starts.

It’s far too early to give up on the 25-year-old quarterback, but things have to be getting uncomfortable. Right?

The NFC South is always a crapshoot. While Baker Mayfield started the season as an MVP candidate with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he’s cooled off a bit due to injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers are moving out of their rebuild phase. Dave Canales has Bryce Young playing better football and Carolina finds themselves with a winning record heading into Week 12.

When drafting a quarterback with the No. 8 overall selection, you’re typically putting all of your eggs in that basket. That was never the case for the Falcons because of Cousins’ contract and their unwillingness to trade him.

Remember, this offseason, Cousins was exposed to plenty of trade rumors. But ultimately, the Falcons decided to hold onto him.

The Falcons are 4-8 in games that Penix starts. His career completion percentage is under 60 percent, but his 12 touchdowns to six interceptions is an acceptable ratio for a young quarterback in a small sample size.

The sample size has been too small for Penix, who will almost certainly get next season as well despite this injury.

But without a first-round selection, it’s difficult to see a path where the Falcons can significantly improve unless their young quarterback takes a big leap – especially in an improving division.