Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-3, 220 lbs |
| Birthplace: Cookeville, TN |
| Age: 26 |
| School: Washington |
| Experience: 3 |
Next Game
Now Playing
Share Video
Link copied!
-
0:52Steelers Handling of CB Joey Porter Jr.
-
6:01Falcons Rule Out Tua Tagovailoa for Week 1 at Steelers
-
1:33Tua Tagovailoa's Status in Question for Opener
-
1:53Bryce Underwood's Job Not Secure After Week 1
-
6:45Falcons Name Tua Tagovailoa Their Week 1 Starter At Quarterback
-
0:44Breaking: Falcons Name Tua Tagovailoa Starting QB for Week 1
-
1:06Falcons Still Undecided on QB1
-
0:53Tua to Start Preseason Finale, Penix Won't Play
-
1:47Falcons Replacing Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.
-
1:28Breaking Down the Falcons QB Competition
-
1:59Falcons QB Battle: Tua vs Penix Jr
-
0:36Falcons QB battle: Why Penix has the edge
-
0:50
Michael Penix Jr. Fully Cleared to Practice
-
1:38Is Tua Tagovailoa on the Hot Seat?
-
1:16Breaking News: Falcons' James Pearce Jr. Suspended 8 Games
-
1:01Tua Tagovailoa to Start For Falcons vs. Broncos
-
11:04Latest from Around the NFL
-
1:05Falcons to Start Tua Tagovailoa in Preseason Opener
-
1:34Who Will Be the Falcons' Week 1 Starting QB?
-
9:44NFL News: Donald Watch
This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Top Michael Penix Jr. News
-
Falcons' Michael Penix: Could start in Week 3
Penix (knee), who has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers, could be cleared to start Thursday's game against the Packers in Week 3, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Penix was ruled out for Week 2 on Friday, so Cooper Rush will start for the Falcons for the second time in as many games. However, Penix has been practicing fully for two weeks, and if he feels confident that he is ready to play on his surgically-repaired left knee, he could take over as Atlanta's starter in Week 3.
... See More ... See Less -
Falcons' Michael Penix: Ruled out for Week 2
Penix (knee) won't play in Sunday's game against the Panthers, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) is listed as doubtful to play, leaving coach Kevin Stefanski to announce Cooper Rush as Atlanta's starting QB for a second contest in a row to kick off the campaign, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com. Penix has been listed as a full participant in practice going back to last week, and while he's told Falcons media that he feels "really close" to his first game action since tearing his left ACL last November, he still has "some goals" that he needs to meet. Penix's next chance for game action is next Thursday at Green Bay.
... See More ... See Less -
-
Falcons' Michael Penix: Could play in Week 2
Penix (knee) was listed as a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Daniel Flick of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Penix practiced fully from Wednesday through Friday last week and ultimately was inactive for Week 1, so he is not a lock to suit up for Week 2 just yet. However -- per the same source above -- he shared the first-team work with Cooper Rush on Wednesday, and -- via Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com -- Penix himself indicated he could take the field Sunday. It likely will not be known for a day or two who will start at quarterback for the Falcons in Week 2, but at the least Penix is in the mix.
... See More ... See Less -
-
-
-
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 Falcons' choice to start in their next game Sept. 20 against the Panthers, regardless of whether Tagovailoa is available.
... See More ... See Less -
-
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 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.
... See More ... See Less -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Falcons' Michael Penix: Will be inactive for opener
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.
... See More ... See Less -
Falcons' Michael Penix: Won't start in Week 1
Penix (knee) won't start the season opener Sunday in Pittsburgh, after the 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.
... See More ... See Less -
-
