Skip to Main Content
Football
Football
ChevronDown

Michael Penix Jr.

#9 QB / Atlanta Falcons / EXP: 3YRS Height: 6-3 Weight: 220 lb Age: 26 College: Washington Bye 11

Fantasy Points by Week

  • PROJ
  • FANTASY PTS
Rost
8%
Start
1%
QB Rank
NR

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Falcons' Michael Penix: Eyeing return for Week 2 or 3

    Penix (knee) will be out for Sunday's season opener in Pittsburgh but is targeting Week 2 or 3 for his 2026 debut, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.Atlanta will be down to its No. 3 quarterback for Week 1, as Cooper Rush -- despite dealing with back spasms -- will pick up the start against the Steelers while Penix and Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) sit out. Penix didn't play in the preseason while completing his recovery from the torn ACL he sustained last November, but he took part in six 11-on-11 practices during training camp and was then a full participant in practices throughout Week 1 prep. If he remains free of setbacks while logging a full slate of practices during Week 2 prep, Penix could be the Atlanta Falcons' choice to start in their next game Sept. 20 against the Panthers, regardless of whether Tagovailoa is available.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Falcons' Michael Penix: Still out Week 1, but FP all week

    Penix (knee), who won't play Sunday in Pittsburgh, was seen throwing to practice-squad players during the open portion of Friday's practice, Daniel Flick of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.On Monday, coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Tua Tagovailoa would be the Atlanta Falcons' Week 1 starting quarterback, while conversely Penix would be inactive for the season opener. On Thursday, though, Tagovailoa strained his oblique and now won't be available this weekend, either, with coach Kevin Stefanski calling him "week-to-week" Friday, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com. Penix's listed activity of "full" all week indicates he's closing in on his first game action since tearing his left ACL last November, and if Tagovailoa is indeed in danger of missing multiple games, Penix could soon be in the mix for starts under center. As for this Sunday, Cooper Rush will direct the offense, with Jack Strand backing him up.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Falcons' Michael Penix: Will be inactive for opener

    Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Penix (knee) will be inactive for Sunday's season opener in Pittsburgh, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.While addressing the media shortly after the Falcons named Tua Tagovailoa their Week 1 starter Monday, Stefanski noted that Penix had taken part in only six 11-on-11 practices during training camp, so the third-year quarterback will need some more time to get back to full speed following last November's ACL tear before making his 2026 debut, per Raimondi. The Falcons were pleased enough with Penix's progress to wait until less than a week before the opener to name a starter, which suggests that he'll likely get a chance to supplant Tagovailoa atop the depth chart at some point this season. While Penix is in street clothes for Week 1, Cooper Rush will step in as Tagovailoa's backup, and undrafted rookie Jack Strand will serve as the No. 3 quarterback.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Falcons' Michael Penix: Won't start in Week 1

    Penix (knee) won't start the season opener Sunday in Pittsburgh, after the Atlanta Falcons named Tua Tagovailoa their top quarterback heading into Week 1, Will McFadden and Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports.Though Penix is expected to receive the opportunity to start at some point in 2026, he'll have to wait at least one more week before getting his chance while he continues to work his way back from the torn ACL he sustained last November. Penix didn't play in the preseason and wasn't cleared to take part in 11-on-11 drills until Aug. 22, so he'll need to get some full practices under his belt before the Falcons consider moving him into the starting role over Tagovailoa, who completed 10 of 13 pass attempts for 117 yards in two exhibition contests but fumbled twice and generally struggled to push the ball downfield during the preseason and training camp. The Falcons kept four quarterbacks on their roster following cut-down day, so Cooper Rush and Jack Strand will be available as backup options if Penix isn't ready to serve as Tagovailoa's understudy in the season opener.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Falcons' Michael Penix: Will start 'eventually,' if not Week 1

    The Atlanta Falcons plan for Penix (knee) to start "eventually" this season, but head coach Kevin Stefanski has yet to decide whether Penix or Tua Tagovailoa will direct the offense Week 1 in Pittsburgh, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.Penix didn't suit up for the preseason while completing his recovery from Nov. 25 surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, but he was cleared to take part in 11-on-11 drills just under two weeks ago and has been able to get some reps in with the first-team offense. Stefanski plans to continue evaluating both Penix and Tagovailoa in practices this week and next before naming a starter. Because of Penix's limitations for much of training camp, Tagovailoa initially appeared to be a strong bet to open the season as the Falcons' starter, but a poor preseason in which he fumbled twice and struggled to push the ball down the field has thus far prevented him from securing the Week 1 nod.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Falcons' Michael Penix: Intends to be ready Week 1

    Penix (knee) won't play in Friday's preseason game in Miami, but he believes he'll be available for a Week 1 road matchup with the Steelers on Sunday, Sept. 13, Tori McElhaney of the Atlanta Falcons' official site reports.Penix was cleared for team drills as of Saturday, but coach Kevin Stefanski won't allow the third-year pro to suit up with only three such practices under his belt. Penix also told Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network that it's "too soon" to play in a game, but he thinks he'll be capable both physically and mentally to be the starter if Stefanski names him the No. 1 over competitor Tua Tagovailoa. Penix is completing the final stages of his recovery from the torn ACL he sustained in his left knee in Week 11 of last season.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Falcons' Michael Penix: In line to see some first-team reps Monday

    Both Tua Tagovailoa and Penix (knee) will take reps with the first-team offense Monday, Tori McElhaney of the Atlanta Falcons' official site reports.Monday's session will mark Penix's first work in full-team drills this summer, a significant milestone for the QB as he works his way back from the torn ACL he suffered in his left knee Week 11 of last season. At this stage, it's unclear if Penix will play in Friday's preseason finale against the Dolphins, but the 2024 first-rounder's ability to commence working in full drills gives him an opportunity to make some strides in the team's QB competition ahead of Week 1.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Falcons' Michael Penix: Cleared for team drills

    Penix (knee) has been cleared to participate in 11-on-11 drills, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.It's a positive step in Penix's recovery from ACL surgery that he underwent in November. He's been limited to 7-on-7 drills for most of training camp, but the expectation is that he'll upgrade to full team drills Monday. Depending on how his knee reacts to additional work, Penix could play in the Atlanta Falcons' preseason finale against the Dolphins on Friday.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Falcons' Michael Penix: Meeting with doctor for health checkpoint

    Penix said that he's meeting with his doctor Thursday to see where his left knee stands, William McFadden of the Atlanta Falcons' official site reports.So far in training camp, Penix has been capped to 7-on-7 drills as he works his way back from the torn ACL he suffered in his left knee Week 11 of last season. He noted that he's hoping to gain clearance, likely for 11-on-11 work, during Thursday's check-up, but he's unsure that'll occur. In any case, Penix continues to make progress in his recovery, but his limitations in practice seemingly has him behind Tua Tagovailoa in the competition to be the Falcons' starting QB to begin the campaign.

  • by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire

    Falcons' Michael Penix: Remaining limited to 7-on-7 drills this week

    Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Penix (knee) will remain limited to taking part in 7-on-7 drills during practices this week, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.Atlanta hasn't yet cleared Penix for 11-on-11 drills as he works his way back from ACL surgery, and until he checks off that box in the recovery process, the quarterback won't be available for preseason action. The Falcons are seemingly preparing for both Penix and Tua Tagovailoa (rest) to sit out their second preseason game Saturday versus the Colts, as Stefanski told Raimondi that Cooper Rush and Jack Strand are under consideration to start that game.

Around the Web Promoted by Taboola