11/19/25 10:44:00
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11/19 10:42 CST Falcons quarterback Penix will have season-ending knee surgery,
leaving Cousins as starter
Falcons quarterback Penix will have season-ending knee surgery, leaving Cousins
as starter
By CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) --- Atlanta Falcons quarter Michael Penix Jr. will
have season-ending surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his left
knee.
The Falcons announced Penix's surgery plans on Wednesday, two days after saying
he would be placed on injured reserve and miss at least four games. The team
said Penix has a partially torn ligament in the knee.
The loss of Penix leaves veteran Kirk Cousins as the starter for the remainder
of the season as the Falcons (3-7) prepare to play at New Orleans on Sunday.
Penix suffered the injury in Sunday's 30-27 overtime loss to Carolina,
extending the Falcons' losing streak to five games.
Coach Raheem Morris is scheduled to speak with reporters later Wednesday.
Penix had two ACL surgeries on his right knee during his college career. It is
not known how another surgery will affect his status for the start of the 2026
season.
The Falcons also are expected to be without top wide receiver Drake London, who
also has a knee injury. Morris said Monday that London's status is "week to
week."
Penix missed the Falcons' 34-10 loss to Miami on Oct. 26 with a bone bruise on
his left knee. He suffered the more significant injury on Sunday when he was
hit by Panthers safety Tre'von Moehrig after throwing an incomplete pass.
Penix sought a second opinion to confirm the original diagnosis of a partially
torn ligament.
Penix, the team's 2024 first-round pick, was 13 of 16 for 175 yards against
Carolina after completing only 12 of 28 passes in a 31-25 overtime loss to the
Indianapolis Colts in Berlin on Nov. 9.
The Falcons' offense struggled in Cousins' first start of the season in the
loss to Miami. Morris noted there was uncertainty at quarterback in practice
leading up to the game against the Dolphins, but this week Cousins will have
the advantage of taking all the first-team snaps.
"He will go through all the rotations this week," Morris said Monday. "He'll go
through everything that we need to get done in order for him to go out there
and, you know, get a win for the football team."
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