Michael Penix Jr. had a tumultuous second year in the NFL. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback was expected to take a leap and help his team compete for the division, but the Falcons were inconsistent for much of the year and did not put up a fight with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
If the performance wasn’t good, there were bigger problems for the quarterback. He underwent knee surgery after an injury in Week 11, with the Falcons still on the hunt for the NFC South. As such, he’ll not play again in the 2025 season.
When Will Michael Penix Jr. Return From Knee Surgery?
Penix needed surgery due to an ACL injury, but in a rare case in the NFL, he did not tear the ligament. He suffered an ACL sprain against the Carolina Panthers, but doctors decided to proceed with surgery to ensure a complete recovery for the upcoming season.
NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport stated at the time of the injury that, due to Penix undergoing surgery, he was likely to miss at least nine months during his recovery. This means his offseason work will focus on recovery rather than improvement, which could hinder his development.
The 9-month timeline also means that Penix will miss plenty of offseason work. He’s expected to return in training camp, but this also means missed workouts at the OTAs and the mandatory minicamp.
Since Penix got injured, veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has taken over the reins for the Falcons. Although the second-year passer wasn’t impressing, the veteran has been even worse: Penix sits as No. 28 with a 70.0 Impact Score in our PFSN QB Impact Metric, and Cousins is down at No. 40 with a 60.0 Impact Score.
Penix will be in his third season in 2026. It is widely accepted in NFL circles that Year 3 is the most crucial season for judging a quarterback’s development, and he’ll be under pressure to deliver. The Falcons haven’t won the NFC South since 2016, and they haven’t been in the playoffs since 2017. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers currently have a four-year streak as division winners.
Another factor is that the quarterback is known for his mobility, one of the best assets of his game. Recovery from knee surgery is often difficult, and even when healthy, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be able to move around as he did in previous years.
Overall, it’s a problematic situation for Atlanta.