Shannon Sharpe didn’t hold back after Michael Penix Jr.’s latest rough outing for the Atlanta Falcons.
The three-time Super Bowl champion took to X on Sunday and made his stance clear on what Atlanta should do at quarterback. “Falcons should be in the market 4 a qb. He’s the 3rd or 4th best qb in a bad division,” Sharpe wrote.
Penix struggled as the Falcons were handled by the Cincinnati Bengals, 34-17. He finished with 162 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception, while also adding three carries for 50 rushing yards.
Joe Burrow had the cleaner day by a wide margin. He threw for 271 yards and three passing touchdowns, and he also ran for a score as Cincinnati picked up its sixth win of the season.
Penix’s season line now sits at 1,444 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions through seven games. He has not cracked the top 10 in any major quarterback category.
His toughest performance came in Week 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when he threw four interceptions in a 16-0 loss. That result added another hit to Atlanta’s playoff hopes.
The Falcons are 3-6, with wins over the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers. Their losses have come against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Buccaneers and Bengals.
Atlanta’s next chance comes in Week 10 against the Kansas City Chiefs, with Patrick Mahomes and Co. on deck before the team heads into a Week 11 bye. The Chiefs are 5-2 and have beaten the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers.
In Other News...
Falcons Face A Jessie Bates Deadline Decision Fans Will Watch Closely
With the trade deadline approaching, the Falcons appear set to take a cautious approach, with the front office more likely to look for draft capital than to move out important pieces. Atlantas 3-5 record has not pushed the team toward a fire sale, and Jessie Bates has emerged as one of the more notable names drawing outside interest as teams check on the market.
Bates is a pending free agent and a 2023 Pro Bowler, which naturally makes him a player rival clubs would ask about, but a deal still looks like a long shot. His salary is a hurdle, and Atlanta does not appear eager to absorb money just to make a trade easier, especially with Bates still operating as a full-time starter next to rookie Xavier Watts. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Need Bijan Robinson To Snap Out Of This Slump Fast
Bijan Robinson opened the 2026 season looking every bit like the engine of Atlantas offense, stacking multiple games with more than 100 scrimmage yards and giving the Falcons the kind of backfield production that can tilt a game plan. Over the last four weeks, though, the rhythm has changed. The touches are still there, but the same explosive finish has been harder to find, and Robinson has already acknowledged to reporters that his recent play has not matched his standard.
The timing matters because Atlanta heads into Week 9 against Cincinnati with a matchup that should be there for the taking on the ground. The Bengals have been vulnerable enough in run defense to give Robinson a path back toward the kind of impact the Falcons need from him, especially as they try to steady an offense that has leaned on him all season. For Atlanta, the question is less whether the opportunity will be there and more whether Robinson can turn it into the kind of statement outing that resets the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Bijan Robinson Just Gave Falcons Fans A Perfect Spain Game Moment
The NFLs push into Spain got an easy win before kickoff when Bijan Robinson showed up around the Week 9 game in Madrid wearing a Real Madrid jersey. For a league trying to plant deeper roots overseas, it was the kind of crossover moment that lands instantly with a local crowd, and it fit Robinsons profile as one of the most visible young stars in the sport. He enters the game leading the NFL in rushing yards through eight weeks, and he is expected to be on the field against the Bengals.
For Atlanta, it is a reminder that Robinsons appeal stretches well beyond the usual NFL audience. A player who can draw attention in a soccer-mad city like Madrid gives the Falcons a rare chance to connect with new fans in a setting built for that kind of exposure. The league wanted a showcase in Spain, and Robinson gave it one before the first snap even mattered. [Read more 🡒]