The Falcons are getting Michael Penix Jr. back at the right time, and the quarterback says he’s finally in the place he needed to be physically after last year’s torn ACL. Penix will return in Week 3 against the Packers, coming off the injury he suffered in Week 11 of last season, and he made it clear Thursday night that the decision to play was tied entirely to how his knee responded.
“The only factor was whenever my knee got healthy, I was going to be on that field, and my knee feels healthy,” Penix said, via Josh Kendall of The Athletic. “I have been playing this game since I was 5 years old.
I’ve been loving it since I was a kid. I am never going to sit out if I’m healthy.
I knew I wasn’t where I needed to be those first two weeks, and now I feel like I’m where I want to be.”
Atlanta offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said he’s thrilled to have Penix back and believes the locker room has responded to the quarterback’s return journey.
“First of all, very excited for Mike,” Rees said. “To see how far he has come and the work he has put in and see his teammates rally around him … tremendously proud of him and really excited for him.”
Falcons receiver Olamide Zaccheaus echoed that feeling, pointing to Penix’s work through rehab and the kind of presence he brings when he’s on the field.
“I think everybody has seen the work he has put in to get back, and I’m excited for him and his opportunity,” Zaccheaus said. “His mentality and presence will be big.
I love the way he has approached everything. Since I’ve been here, I’ve seen how he’s worked day in and day out.
His process is very mature.”
In Carolina, Xavier Legette is being blunt about where things stand. The Panthers wideout said his third year is a defining one after production hasn’t matched the expectations that came with being a first-round pick in 2024.
“This season, like you said, is do-or-die for me,” Legette said, via the Up & Adams Show. “I hope to be in Carolina my whole career, if I’m blessed and able to do that. However it goes, I love this game, I love the places that it can take me.”
The Panthers also brought veteran running back Austin Ekeler in for a workout on Wednesday, but he left without a contract. On the depth chart front, offensive coordinator Brad Idzik said AJ Dillon can help replace what Jonathon Brooks brings in the passing game, noting, “He caught the heck out of the ball all training camp.” Trevor Etienne, who can also help as a receiver, said he feels good and remains on track to come off injured reserve in Week 5, when he becomes eligible.
In Tampa Bay, first-round edge rusher Rueben Bain, Jr. was missing from the open portion of Wednesday’s practice while working through a shoulder injury. Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles also said Bain is dealing with a groin injury he picked up in Sunday’s game.
The Saints are coming off a 24-17 win over the Ravens, and Chris Olave said the victory meant a lot because New Orleans finally beat a contender after plenty of frustration against strong teams during his five-year career.
“I feel like since I’ve been here, we haven’t really beat a good team. I feel like it’s been tough for us to be able to battle against good teams or great teams that make the playoffs every year,” Olave said via Katherine Terrell of ESPN.
“Baltimore … is a contender in the AFC. So just to be able to battle, be able to show our resilience, be able to come in here and get a W was huge for us, and we got to carry it over to next week.”
New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough also drew praise for a key third-down conversion against Baltimore, when he hit Juwan Johnson for 24 yards on 3rd-and-8 and absorbed a hard shot in the process. Kellen Moore called it a “special play.”
“It was a special play. Got a lot of juice and energy,” Moore said.
“Obviously it very much changed the entire game management moving forward after that. … That was a huge play.
Just great effort by Juwan. Give us a chance to hopefully get that touchdown.”
The Saints have been perfect on fourth down so far, converting all four of their attempts this season, including two in Week 2. Shough said he treats those situations like any other snap.
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