Stefanski: Michael Penix Jr. will start Sunday “as long as everything goes accordingly”
In some great news ahead of the Falcons showdown with the Bears on Sunday, Michael Penix Jr. returned to practice on Wednesday, with Kevin Stefanski telling the media that Penix will start “as long as everything goes accordingly.” Kevin Stefanski said Michael Penix Jr. should start this weekend against the Bears "as long as everything […]
In some great news ahead of the Falcons showdown with the Bears on Sunday, Michael Penix Jr. returned to practice on Wednesday, with Kevin Stefanski telling the media that Penix will start “as long as everything goes accordingly.”
Kevin Stefanski said Michael Penix Jr. should start this weekend against the Bears "as long as everything goes accordingly." pic.twitter.com/o3BxbBnESA
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) October 14, 2026
Penix suffered a rib injury in the fourth quarter of the Falcons’ loss to the Ravens on Sunday Night Football. He did return briefly but was ruled out for overtime, with Tua Tagovailoa throwing the game-sealing interception.
The script for the Falcons has been pretty damn clear through the first five weeks. The team was 0-2 after two games, with Cooper Rush looking like a high school teacher masquerading as an NFL quarterback. Atlanta couldn’t even muster a red zone drive with him under center.
But once Penix returned to the starting lineup, this has been among the most explosive offenses in the NFL. It hasn’t all been perfect, as we saw on Sunday. Penix still has some things to clean up if he wants to be heralded as the franchise’s long-term answer at quarterback, but this team has life with him under center. If he can stay healthy, the Falcons feel like contenders in the NFC South — and they wouldn’t be a fun team for anybody to play come the postseason.
Unfortunately, staying healthy has plagued Penix throughout his football career, dating back to his college days, and through his first three seasons in the league, it’s plagued the Falcons as well.
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Photo: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire
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