The Atlanta Falcons are facing uncertainty at the quarterback position after Michael Penix Jr. suffered a partially torn ACL in his left leg, which will require surgery and is expected to keep him out for nine months. This injury could delay his return until the start of the 2026 season, and may even impact his ability to be ready for Week 1.
Head coach Raheem Morris confirmed that the team’s plans for quarterbacks during the offseason will have to change following Penix’s injury. “To answer that in the shortest possible way is yes,” Morris said. “You’ve definitely got to go out and make some different plans when we talk about the offseason, but we’ll talk about that and address that when we get there. Right now, we’ve got to prepare for the New Orleans Saints, and that’s what we’ll do. But that’s always got to be something that’s on your mind regardless and definitely puts it on your mind a little bit more with this happening.”
For now, Kirk Cousins will serve as the starting quarterback for the remainder of 2025. The future beyond this season remains uncertain.
After trading Matt Ryan in March 2021, Atlanta experienced instability at quarterback, using Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder before both were replaced due to performance issues. When Raheem Morris was hired as head coach, he identified resolving this ongoing issue as a priority.
In an effort to secure stability at quarterback, Atlanta signed Cousins to a multi-year contract and selected Penix eighth overall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. General manager Terry Fontenot reflected on this approach: “If you would have told me at that time that we would have Kirk Cousins for right now and Michael Penix for the future,” Fontenot said then, “I would have told you it was a pipe dream.”
The original plan was for Cousins to start while Penix developed as his successor. However, poor performance from Cousins late in 2024 led Atlanta to start Penix earlier than planned.
With Penix sidelined by another significant injury—adding to four previous ones sustained before his professional career—the team must reconsider its strategy yet again. While there is hope that Penix can eventually become Atlanta’s long-term solution at quarterback, uncertainty persists about how soon he can return or whether further adjustments will be needed if his recovery lingers into next season.
As preparations continue for upcoming games such as their matchup against New Orleans, leadership acknowledges they must adapt their plans once more due to these latest developments.
