He’s Back: Michael Penix Jr. Named Falcons Starting Quarterback After Recovering From ACL Surgery

It’s a new era in Atlanta … again.

After beginning the season with a winless 0-2 record, the Atlanta Falcons have decided to go back to their franchise quarterback: Michael Penix Jr.

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According to a Monday announcement from the Falcons, the first-round pick has been named the starter for its Week 3 contest against the Green Bay Packers.

Penix missed the Falcons’ first two games because he was recovering from ACL surgery. (RELATED: 157-Degree Turf Temperature In Eagles-Titans Game Melts Cleats, Forces Philadelphia’s Nick Sirianni To Get IV)

The decision from Atlanta comes after Cooper Rush was forced into the starting role for the team’s first two games of the season.

Needless to say, things didn’t go well for Rush, who completed just 56.4% of his passes and threw just one touchdown. Rush also leads the league in interceptions with four.

And the Dirty Birds’ other quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, is out with an oblique injury, which he suffered just days prior to the start of the regular season. (Because of course he did. … Sorry, that’s the Dolphins fan in me.)

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I get it, desperation does funny things to front offices, especially when they’re staring down the barrel of an 0-3 hole.

With that being said, throwing Michael Penix Jr. directly into the fire against Green Bay’s pass rush—on the road, fresh off ACL rehab—feels less like a calculated football decision and more like launching a Hail Mary with 14 minutes left in the first quarter.

It’s easy to understand the temptation. Penix has the cannon, the swagger, and the draft pedigree that this fan base desperately wants to rally around.

Could Penix catch lightning in a bottle and pull off a heroic Week 3 upset?

Sure. The talent is undeniable.

But if the Falcons rush their QB of the future back before his footing is solid—and he takes a couple of bad hits in the pocket—they won’t just lose Week 3. They’ll risk torching the next five years of the franchise.

Buckle up, Atlanta. The Penix era is officially here, again, whether you’re ready or not.

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