Michael Penix Jr. injury update: Falcons QB suffered 'potential season-ending' knee problem

Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. may have suffered a season-ending knee injury in Atlanta’s 30-27 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Penix is reportedly seeking out a second opinion on his injury.

Before leaving the game on Sunday, Penix completed 13-of-his-16 pass attempts for 175 yards. He didn’t throw any touchdowns or interceptions. Kirk Cousins replaced Penix following his injury. Cousins completed just 6-of-his-14 pass attempts for 48 yards.

This season has been Penix’s first as the Falcons’ full-time starter. He’s completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,982 yards and nine touchdowns this season, compared to just three interceptions.

Penix is no stranger to knee injuries. In his freshman season at Indiana, Penix tore his ACL after making three appearances. Just two years later, Penix tore the same ACL in a win over Maryland.

Penix also battled shoulder injuries during his collegiate career. In 2019, he missed four games after fracturing his clavicle. He also missed the final seven games of the 2021 season after separating his shoulder.

Penix transferred to Washington after the 2021 campaign. He was immediately a star for the Huskies, shattering the Huskies’ single-season passing record. In 2023, Penix followed up on his career year by guiding Washington to a national championship appearance.

The Falcons selected Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. With their loss against the Panthers on Sunday, the Falcons are 3-7 this season.

Atlanta won three of its first five games of the 2025 campaign, but has lost five consecutive outings since. After the game, Falcons star running back Bijan Robinson said he’s telling his teammates to stay off social media and remain focused.

“I can’t let it happen,” Robinson said. “I’m not going to let it happen. I’m going to do as much as I can to eliminate all that stuff. If I have to say it in front of the whole team, I’ll do it. Because if that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes right now. It might be uncomfortable for me, because I’m more of a lead-by-example type of guy, but I hope my words and I pray that my words are going to affect these guys in the best way possible.

“… As a leader, (I’m) trying to instill confidence in them every single day and bringing positivity into the building. … That’s the biggest thing. Because it happens a lot of when teams are in this position; it just spirals because they just focus on the wrong stuff.”