Things have not been going well for the Atlanta Falcons as they lost their Week 11 NFC South matchup against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, 30-27 in overtime. Atlanta lost another game that many think they should have won. They’ve lost multiple games this season by seven points or less, and this was another example of that. But to make matters worse, starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. may be gone for the rest of the season due to injury.
What Happened To Michael Penix Jr.?
During the game against the Panthers on Sunday, Penix Jr. was injured in the third quarter, and Kirk Cousins played the rest of the game. It was reported during the game broadcast that Penix Jr. suffered an injury to his knee. Before leaving the game, Penix Jr. was playing fairly well, going 13/16 for 175 yards passing, and the Falcons’ offense had been productive, especially in the run game. When Cousins was in the game, he went 6/14 for 48 yards.
It was stated by Tori McElhaney of the official team site and other outlets that ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Penix Jr.’s knee injury could possibly keep him out for the rest of the season.
Penix Jr.’s Injury History
During his college career, Penix Jr. had multiple knee injuries, such as a torn ACL in his right knee in 2018 and tearing his right ACL again in 2020 while at Indiana, before transferring to Washington in 2022 and concluding his college career there before being drafted 8th overall by the Falcons in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Throughout his tenure in Atlanta, Penix Jr. has dealt with injuries such as a bone bruise earlier this season in Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers and the knee injury in Week 11 vs. the Carolina Panthers.
How Does Penix Jr.’s Knee Injury Affect the Falcons’ Offense
With Penix Jr. potentially being gone for the rest of the season, that would prompt them to start backup Cousins. Cousins started in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins and threw for 173 yards on 21/31 passing with zero touchdowns.
Cousins has played in the NFL for quite some time and he’s capable of being the Falcons starter for the team being, given that he was the starter for most of 2024. With more reps and preparation, Cousins could lead the team to some wins even if some consider the season to be lost.
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Running back Bijan Robinson is playing at a high level, and so are the pass catchers, such as wide receiver Drake London. The offense may look different due to Cousins’ immobility at quarterback, but it should be able to stay afloat with Cousins as the starter.
PFSN has the Falcons’ offense at 75.6 Impact Score (14th) while the Defense is a 71.8 Impact Score (19th).
