The Falcons head into Week 6 with plenty of momentum, but a heavy test waiting on the other side. Atlanta has won two of its last three since Michael Penix Jr. returned, and even the overtime loss to Baltimore last weekend did little to change the sense that this team is moving in the right direction under head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Now comes Chicago, and the challenge ramps up fast. The Bears arrive with Ben Johnson’s offense humming, and they’re expecting star quarterback Caleb Williams back this week. That sets the stage for a matchup that could tell us a lot about where Atlanta stands right now.
The latest injury news around the game points to key quarterbacks being in line to suit up. Penix was a full participant at Thursday’s practice for a second straight day and is expected to play against the Bears.
Williams was also a full participant on Chicago’s latest injury report, putting him on track to return on Sunday. Falcons defensive end Cameron Thomas was added to Thursday’s report as well.
Penix’s status looked a little cloudy for a moment after he left Sunday’s loss to the Ravens in the fourth quarter with a rib injury and did not return. But the quarterback made it clear after Wednesday’s practice that he expects to be out there.
“We’re good and I feel good to go this week, so that’s the plan,” Penix said following Wednesday's practice. "MRI/scans were all positive...
It’s not always comfortable but I made every throw out there today."
Atlanta also made a roster move on Thursday evening, releasing defensive back Jammie Robinson. Robinson had spent much of the last two seasons on the practice squad before being signed to the active roster ahead of the Ravens game.
The 25-year-old came into the league as a fifth-round pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2023. He played in 21 games over his first two seasons in Carolina, then joined the Falcons in 2025 and appeared in six games.
Across his four-year NFL career, Robinson has 23 tackles, including 16 solo stops, with most of his work coming on special teams. With a practice squad spot still open, it would not be a surprise to see him back in Atlanta before Sunday.
On the field, the Falcons’ offense has taken a big step forward with Penix in the lineup. After scoring just 16 points total in their first two games, Atlanta has piled up 103 over the last three weeks.
That surge has been fueled by Bijan Robinson and Drake London, who have become the league’s most productive running back-wide receiver tandem. Robinson leads the NFL with 580 rushing yards, while London sits fourth in the league with 488 receiving yards.
Together, they have accounted for 1,220 total yards, the best total for any RB-WR duo in the NFL this season.
London says the unit still has another level to reach. “The fun part about this (offense) is that we are nowhere near our ceiling.
I truthfully believe that,” London said. “I think we’re going to be … hard to deal with, especially when we clean up some of these little things.”
There’s also a little draft chatter in the background. In a new 2027 NFL mock draft from Pro Football Focus, Atlanta goes offensive line at No. 14 overall, taking Jordan Seaton from LSU.
PFF’s Gordon McGuinness said, "Seaton would give the Falcons a succession plan for Jake Matthews at left tackle, with the veteran currently in his 13th season. LSU's left tackle has earned a 79.1 PFF pass-blocking grade so far in 2026 and produced a 93.5% PFF pass-block win rate on plays where he has been left to block without help."
And then there’s Grady Jarrett, who will be back at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the first time since leaving Atlanta in free agency. The former Falcons defensive tackle signed with the Bears in 2025 after spending 10 seasons in Atlanta and becoming one of the franchise’s defining players.
Over 152 games with the Falcons, the Georgia native posted 496 tackles, 126 QB hits and 36.5 sacks. Ahead of the reunion, Jarrett kept it simple: "It's going to be awesome to play there.
All the time I spent there," Jarrett told reporters on Wednesday. "It's going to be cool to be back on that turf.
I’m going to go out there, compete and do what I’m going to do.”
In Other News...
Michael Penix Jr. Gets A Break From His Biggest Problem
Michael Penix Jr. has given the Falcons plenty to like in his first three starts, showing up near the top of several offensive categories and settling in as a more encouraging piece of the offense than many expected this early. But there has been one clear trouble spot in his game, and it has shown up whenever defenses have been able to get heat on him in the pocket.
The next test comes with a little relief attached. Chicago is scheduled to bring a shorthanded pass rush into the matchup, with the Bears down both of their top edge threats, which could mean a cleaner afternoon for Penix than he has had against pressure so far. For Atlanta, that matters because his ability to operate comfortably could go a long way toward keeping the offense on schedule and giving him another chance to build on a promising start. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Secondary Could Make One Draft What If Hurt Even More
Rome Odunze has had a stop-and-start beginning to his NFL career, flashing enough talent to keep the Bears hopeful while injuries and uneven production have kept him from putting it together consistently. Now Chicago gets Atlanta in Week 6, and the matchup arrives at a time when the Falcons secondary is far from whole, giving Odunze a chance to turn one of those promising stretches into something more sustained.
The timing matters for Atlanta because the defense is already thin enough that Chicago may be able to pick on spots in coverage and lean on Odunze as a vertical threat. With the Falcons trying to hold together a back end that has been hit by injuries, this is the kind of game that can make a draft decision look even more painful if the young receiver finally finds his stride on Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Face A Few Matchups That Could Decide Everything Vs Bears
Sundays matchup in Chicago has more than enough at stake for the Falcons to keep a close eye on the details, and the game may come down to a handful of individual battles as much as scheme or momentum. Jeff Ulbrich will be under the microscope against Bears coach Ben Johnson, while the trench work on both sides should matter just as much, with Gervon Dexter set to test Jonah Jackson and Atlantas protection up front.
The passing game, though, may offer the clearest swing points for Atlantas offense. Drake London has become the kind of target who forces defenses to make a plan for him every week, and Kyle Pitts is coming off a more involved showing that hinted at a bigger role moving forward. Chicago has enough talent in the secondary and at linebacker to make both matchups interesting, which is exactly why this one feels like it could hinge on a few decisive snaps rather than a long, steady flow. [Read more 🡒]