The Atlanta Falcons are running out of patience at quarterback, and Michael Penix Jr.’s return has become the obvious answer.
After Penix tore his ACL last November, the original plan was for him to be ready for Week 1. That didn’t happen, and Atlanta decided to keep him sidelined a little longer. With Tua Tagovailoa also injured, the Falcons were left to start Cooper Rush against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that move went horribly.
Rush’s rough outing only sharpened the pressure around Penix. Atlanta badly needs better play under center, and there’s a real sense that the team should be getting him back on the field as soon as possible. Even with Sunday’s home opener against the Panthers on the schedule, though, there’s no guarantee that happens.
Ian Rapoport discussed Penix’s status on NFL Network’s The Aftermath and said the initial expectation was a return around Week 2 or 3. But he also made clear the timeline may not be as close as hoped.
"It is pretty clear to me that the Falcons would like Michael Penix Jr. to be their starting quarterback when he is healthy, when he is ready, and when he can do it," Rapoport said... "From my understanding the initial timeframe was about Week 2 or 3. It seems at this point that it might be a bit too early for Michael Penix."
That uncertainty is exactly what has Atlanta fans uneasy. Penix, the former top-10 pick, would be a major upgrade even at less than full strength, and Rush was nowhere near 100% either. The Falcons also never placed Penix on short-term IR, which strongly suggests they believe his return is not far off.
Still, the wait has dragged on. A torn ACL usually carries a recovery window of nine to 12 months, and the calendar is now at the 10-month mark. Penix has also been cleared for full contact for three weeks and is doing everything in practice, yet there still isn’t a firm answer on when he’ll actually play.
Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL a month after Penix and was still able to start for the Kansas City Chiefs in their Week 1 win on Monday Night Football. Penix, meanwhile, was a healthy inactive, which is how Atlanta ended up turning to Rush in the first place. And once Penix is ready, the expectation is that he takes over.
The bigger question is why the Falcons are treating him so carefully now. He’s 26, he hasn’t taken in-game reps since the last meeting against Carolina, and if there’s going to be an adjustment period anyway, the argument is that it should start sooner rather than later.
For now, Atlanta seems stuck between caution and urgency. The quarterback situation is bad enough that the Falcons can’t really afford much more hesitation.
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