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Report: Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. (knee) could debut Thursday

By Thomson Reuters Sep 20, 2026 | 12:23 PM

By Field Level Media

Sep 20 (Field Level Media) – Injured quarterback Michael Penix Jr. could make his season debut ​for the Atlanta Falcons as ‌soon as Thursday against the Green Bay Packers, according to an ESPN report Sunday.

Penix, 26, has not played since Nov. 16, when ‌he ​tore the anterior cruciate ⁠ligament in his left ⁠knee during a Week 11 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers.

The third-year signal-caller is inactive for Sunday’s game against ​the Panthers, but sources tell ESPN that Penix could be ready ⁠for Week 3.

He might ⁠not be the only Falcons ​quarterback who returns to active duty Thursday. ​Tua Tagovailoa, who sat out Week 1 ‌with an oblique injury and did not suit up against the Panthers, also is on pace to be ready ⁠for Green Bay.

Atlanta has Cooper Rush and Jack Strand as its active quarterbacks against Carolina. ⁠Rush, 32, ‌started Week 1 at ⁠Pittsburgh and hit 12 of ​22 ‌passes for 143 yards, one touchdown ​and ⁠two interceptions in a 20-13 loss.

Strand, a 22-year-old rookie signed as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State-Moorhead, has yet to make his NFL debut. –Field ​Level Media