Michael Penix Jr. Injury News & Updates

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said that Penix (knee) underwent full reconstructive surgery to address the partially torn ACL in his left knee on Tuesday and experienced no complications with the procedure, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Penix faces a nine-month recovery timetable as a result of the procedure. The 25-year-old quarterback has now undergone ACL reconstructive surgeries three times in his career, as he previously had procedures on his right knee in 2018 and 2020 while in college. He also suffered season-ending injuries to each shoulder in 2019 and 2021. Morris has said that the severe nature of Penix's injury will "100 percent" influence Atlanta to "make some different plans" at quarterback this offseason, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, though that could just as easily refer to the team prioritizing a reliable backup rather than bringing in actual competition for the starting role. Kirk Cousins will start the remainder of the season under center for the Falcons, but this offseason the team can exercise a potential 'out' for the final two season of his four-year, $180 million contract at the cost of a $35 million dead-cap hit. Atlanta doesn't currently hold any first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, which will limit the team's abil

Penix is scheduled to undergo reconstructive ACL surgery on his left knee in Los Angeles during the upcoming week and is expected to face a nine-month recovery, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

With Penix set for season-ending surgery, Kirk Cousins will take over as the Falcons' new starting quarterback beginning with Sunday's game in New Orleans. Even though Penix's estimated nine-month recovery timeline would give him a chance to be ready to play by Week 1 of the 2026 campaign, head coach Raheem Morris acknowledged that Penix's medical history will likely prompt the team to make alternative plans at quarterback -- whether that's retaining Cousins or bringing aboard someone else -- this coming offseason as a safeguard. During his time in college, Penix previously underwent surgeries to repair the ACL in his right knee in 2018 and 2020, and he also had two other seasons end early due to shoulder injuries.

The Falcons confirmed Wednesday that Penix sustained a partially torn ACL during the team's Week 11 loss to Carolina, and that he will require full reconstructive surgery to address the injury.

Penix will face, at minimum, a nine month recovery timetable upon going under the knife, which will heavily restrict his ability to practice during the offseason, as well as potentially impact his availability for Week 1 of the 2026 campaign. He also aggravated the preexisting bone bruise in his left knee. The 2024 first-round pick underwent surgery to repair the ACL in his right knee twice during college, in 2018 and 2020, in addition to the season-ending shoulder injuries he suffered in 2019 and 2021. Kirk Cousins will lead Atlanta under center for the remainder of the 2025 season, and the team will doubtless enter the 2026 offseason with additional incentive to secure a capable backup option behind Penix.

The Falcons placed Penix (knee) on injured reserve Monday.

"We are working through the medical process to determine the severity of the injury," the Falcons said in a statement Monday. "[Penix] will be placed on the reserve/injured list and miss a minimum of four games. With the move, Kirk Cousins will assume the starting quarterback role for the Falcons at this time." It's been reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that Penix aggravated an existing bone bruise and knee sprain while also suffering damage to his ACL in his left knee, the same knee that Penix has already had the ACL reconstructed twice previously during his college days. Penix won't be eligible to return until Week 16 against the Cardinals at the earliest.

Penix (knee) will be placed on injured reserve after he aggravated a bone bruise and knee sprain and sustained damage to his ACL in Sunday's loss to the Panthers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Additionally, according to Rapoport, Penix may need ACL reconstruction, which would obviously end his season and come with a lengthy rehab. However, it sounds like Penix is seeking additional opinions on the injury. With Penix expected to head to injured reserve, Kirk Cousins would be in line to start at least the next four games, and Penix would be ineligible to play before Week 16. The 3-7 Falcons have lost five straight games, and their season is circling the drain quickly. It may already be at the point that bringing Penix back at the end of the season wouldn't be worth it.

Penix is believed to have suffered a season-ending partially torn ACL in Sunday's overtime loss to the Panthers, James Palmer of The Athletic reports.

Things continue to sound ominous for Penix, who was forced to exit Sunday's Week 11 loss to Carolina in the second half with a knee injury. Signs are pointing toward Penix missing the remainder of the 2025 season, though he's currently seeking a second opinion on the injury. Kirk Cousins appears to be in line to start next Sunday against the Saints and potentially beyond. Penix has already torn the ACL in his left knee twice throughout his playing career, dating back to college.

The Falcons believe the knee injury Penix suffered during Sunday's overtime loss to the Panthers to be potentially season-ending, though the quarterback will seek a second opinion, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Penix was initially reported to have aggravated the knee injury that forced him to sit out Week 8 versus the Dolphins, a bone bruise. He suffered two ACL tears in his left knee during college, making the nature of his current issue especially significant. If the second-year quarterback is indeed now facing a season-ending issue, however, he will wrap Year 2 of his NFL career with a 60 percent completion percentage, 1,982 passing yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions, in addition to 21 carries for 70 yards and a score. Veteran backup Kirk Cousins looks slated to draw another start on the road against New Orleans in Week 12, at the very least, and potentially to handle the No. 1 role for the remainder of the 2025 campaign.

Penix (knee) is believed to have aggravated a previous knee injury during Sunday's 30-27 overtime loss to the Panthers and there is concern that he could miss additional time, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report.

Penix exited in the third quarter of Sunday's loss and Kirk Cousins finished out the game in relief. Cousins filled in when Penix sat out Atlanta's 34-10 loss to the Dolphins due to a bone bruise in Week 8. If Penix misses additional action as feared, Cousins would start in Week 12 against the Saints. Penix is set for additional testing on his injury.

Penix suffered a left knee injury during Sunday's contest against the Panthers, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Penix completed 13 of 16 passes for 175 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing one time for nine yards at the time he departed in the third quarter after getting twisted to the ground on an incompletion. Kirk Cousins will direct the Falcons offense for as long as Penix is sidelined.

Penix completed 12 of 28 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 31-25 loss to the Colts.

The second-year QB also tossed a two-point conversion but got sacked three times and lost a fumble. It's the third straight game in which Penix has failed to complete 60 percent of his passes, although Sunday's 42.9 percent mark was by far a season low. Drake London remains his lone reliable downfield threat, and the duo hooked up for a 16-yard TD in the second quarter and a two-point conversion in the fourth for the Falcons' final points on the day. Penix will try to turn things around on the accuracy front in Week 11 against the Panthers.

Penix (knee) completed 22 of 37 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday's 24-23 loss to the Patriots.

Penix posted a new career high with three touchdown passes in his return from a one-game absence due to a knee injury. All three were thrown to Drake London, who returned from a one-game absence of his own due to a hip injury. They connected for a one-yard touchdown in the first quarter, a two-yard touchdown in the second and an eight-yard score in the third. Seventeen of Penix's 22 completions went to either London or Bijan Robinson. Penix will likely continue to lean heavily on those two playmakers in Week 10 against the Colts in Berlin.

Penix (knee) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at New England, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

WR Drake London (hip), WR Darnell Mooney (hamstring), TE Kyle Pitts (ankle) and LT Jake Matthews (ankle) also avoided game designations on the final injury report, bringing Atlanta's offense back to near-full strength ahead of a challenging matchup. Kirk Cousins' poor performance in Penix's stead last week likely answers questions about Penix being benched for performance reasons anytime soon.

Penix (knee) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Penix has maintained his activity level in practice for more than a week due to the bone bruise in his knee that he sustained Week 7 at San Francisco and sidelined him this past Sunday against the Dolphins. Coach Raheem Morris told Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com on Wednesday that he feels "really good" about Penix, after which the quarterback himself told McElhaney that he was "trending in the right direction." Penix may need to practice in full Friday to avoid an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game at New England, but it's unclear who between him and Kirk Cousins is destined to be Atlanta's starting QB in Week 9.

Penix (knee) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Penix also was limited all of last week due to a bone bruise in his knee before the Falcons made him inactive for this past Sunday's game against the Dolphins, allowing Kirk Cousins to direct the offense in a 34-10 loss. Prior to Wednesday's session, coach Raheem Morris told Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com that he feels "really good" about Penix, and the quarterback himself relayed to McElhaney afterward, "I feel like I am trending in the right direction." Whether or not that'll amount to a return to action for Penix on Sunday at New England remains to be seen, but he'll have two more opportunities to prove the health of his knee before Atlanta potentially tags him with a Week 9 designation.

Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Penix (knee) is slated to participate in Wednesday's walkthrough practice, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Penix remains day-to-day due to a bone bruise in his knee, and he had been limited in practice all of Week 8 before being ruled out for Atlanta's loss for the Dolphins. That could mean that Penix will need to get back on the practice field as a full participant before being cleared to return to action. Veteran backup Kirk Cousins struggled during Atlanta's 34-10 loss to Miami, but he will be called upon to draw another start on the road versus New England in Week 9 if Penix is unable to go. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN however, Morris he feels "really good" about the odds of Penix being cleared to face the Patriots. Top wideout Drake London (hip) is also expected to practice Wednesday after having sat out Week 8, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said Monday that Penix (knee) is day-to-day, Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports.

Morris said the same of top wideout Drake London (hip), who joined Penix on the sideline during Atlanta's loss to the Dolphins in Week 8. Veteran backup Kirk Cousins struggled to move the offense in place of Penix, completing 21 of 31 passes for 173 yards with no touchdowns (or interceptions) during the 34-10 loss, while also rushing twice for two yards. It will bode well for the Falcons' offense if both Penix and London are able to get back on the field as the team prepares for a Week 9 road matchup against New England. Penix was limited in practice all of Week 8 due to a bone bruise in his knee, so he may need to resume handling full reps before being cleared to return to the starting lineup.

Penix (knee) is listed as inactive Sunday against the Dolphins, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Penix was clearly hobbled in the waning minutes of last Sunday's loss at San Francisco. The eventual diagnosis was a bone bruise in his knee that limited him in practice during the entirety of Week 8 prep and left him questionable for Sunday's game. Adam Schefter of ESPN then reported Saturday morning that Kirk Cousins was likely to start in place of Penix, before reporting later Saturday that Cousins was trending toward leading the Falcons offense this weekend. Now that Penix has been deemed unavailable, Cousins will make his first start since Week 15 of last season, while the former has a good chance to return to action next Sunday in New England, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Penix (knee) won't suit up Sunday against the Dolphins, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

A bone bruise in his knee held Penix to three limited practice sessions this week, though he was deemed questionable on Friday's final injury report, with head coach Raheem Morris expressing optimism that the second-year quarterback would be able to play. However, the tide turned on that outlook Saturday, and Schefter's sources indicate that Penix will miss Sunday's matchup versus Miami. As a result, Kirk Cousins is slated to start at quarterback for the first time this season.

Penix (knee) was limited in practice all week and is trending toward being inactive for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

With Penix's practice snaps limited, it was Kirk Cousins who worked with the first-team offense during the Falcons' Week 8 prep. Penix is recovering from a bone bruise in his knee that he sustained in Week 7 against the 49ers, and while head coach Raheem Morris expressed optimism Friday about the second-year quarterback's chances of playing Sunday, it appears that it will be the veteran Cousins under center against Miami. Official word on Penix's status for Week 8 may not be known until the Falcons announce their list of inactive players approximately 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.

Penix (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, though Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Friday that he feels good about Penix's chances of playing, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Penix has had his practice reps limited by a knee injury he sustained late in Atlanta's Week 7 loss to the 49ers. The second-year quarterback seems to be trending toward playing, but if Penix is unable to suit up, Kirk Cousins would be the next man up at home against the 1-6 Dolphins.

Penix (knee) was a limited practice participant Thursday

Penix is tending to a knee injury in the wake of getting rolled up in down the stretch of this past Sunday's loss at San Francisco. His reps were capped at Wednesday's walkthrough, and he maintained that activity level one day later, giving him just one more chance to practice in full this week. Friday's injury report will reveal whether or not Penix enters the weekend with a designation for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

Penix (knee) was limited at Wednesday's walkthrough, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Coach Raheem Morris said Monday that Penix came out of Sunday's 20-10 loss in San Francisco with a bone bruise in his foot/ankle, per Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site. Morris then told Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com on Wednesday that Penix was "day-to-day" before the Falcons listed him with a knee injury on the first Week 8 practice report. No matter the nature of the issue, Morris feels good about the second-year quarterback ahead of the weekend, according to Raimondi, but Kirk Cousins is waiting in the wings in the event Penix isn't able to suit up Sunday against the Dolphins.

Coach Raheem Morris said Penix (foot) remains "day-to-day" and will be limited at practice Wednesday, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Penix was visibly hobbled late during this past Sunday's 20-10 loss at San Francisco in which he completed 21 of 38 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, had two carries for six yards and lost a fumble. According to Raimondi, Morris added that he feels good about Penix heading into the weekend, but his status still will be watched in the coming days to get a sense of his availability for Sunday's game against the Dolphins. Kirk Cousins is on hand in the event Penix ultimately isn't able to go Week 8.

Coach Raheem Morris said Monday that Penix has a bone bruise in his foot/ankle area and is considered day-to-day, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

It doesn't sound like an overly serious issue for the Falcons' quarterback, and it's unclear if it will keep Penix from playing next Sunday against the Dolphins. Penix didn't miss a snap in Sunday night's loss to the 49ers but appeared to pick up the injury in the fourth quarter. If Penix is unable to go against Miami, Kirk Cousins would get the start for Atlanta.

Penix completed 21 of 38 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Sunday's 20-10 loss to the 49ers. He added two rushes for six yards and also lost a fumble.

Penix's stat line looks mediocre, but he struggled to move the Atlanta offense for most of the game. He threw for 128 yards in the first half, though 57 of them came in the final 32 seconds of the second quarter, when Penix managed to move the team into field goal range only to squander the opportunity with an intentional grounding penalty. The second half followed a similar pattern, as Penix effectively led the Falcons on one drive early in the fourth quarter with long completions of 15 and 19 yards, only to have the possession stall deep in 49ers' territory on fourth down. This performance continued an inconsistent season for Penix, and he's now accounted for one or fewer total touchdowns in four of six contests.

Penix completed 20 of 32 pass attempts for 250 yards and a touchdown while gaining six yards on two carries in Monday's 24-14 win over Buffalo.

Penix outdueled Bills' star QB Josh Allen (57.7 completion percentage for 180 yards) on the national stage en route to the Falcons' third win of the campaign. Bijan Robinson stole the show on offense with 238 yards from scrimmage, but Atlanta's signal-caller also deserves praise for the upset victory. Penix led an impressive 14-play drive midway through the fourth quarter that ate up most of the remaining clock while deflating Buffalo's hopes of a comeback. The surging sophomore will look to build on a modest two-game win streak when the Falcons take on the 49ers in Week 7.

Penix completed 20 of 26 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in Sunday's 34-27 win over the Commanders. He added two rushing yards on four carries.

After a rough Week 3 performance on the road in Carolina, Penix returned home in Week 4 and looked much more composed, topping his prior career high in yardage by one as he delivered his first multi-TD effort of 2025. The second-year QB hit Drake London for a five-yard score in the first quarter and Kyle Pitts for a seven-yard touchdown in the third, while both London and Bijan Robinson eclipsed the century mark in receiving yards, during a game in which Atlanta never trailed. Penix will get a week off for the Falcons' bye before facing a tough test in Week 6 against the Bills.

Penix completed 18 of 36 passes for 172 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions while adding two rushes for nine yards in the Falcons' 30-0 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.

Over his first five NFL starts, Penix hadn't come close to scuffling in the manner he did Sunday, and the fact the opponent was a Panthers squad that had struggled on defense over the first two games made his poor effort all the more alarming. Penix threw multiple interceptions for the first time as a pro, and he was under 200 passing yards for the second straight game. While the low passing volume was by design in a dominant Week 2 win over the Vikings, Sunday's downturn was directly correlated to how well the opposing defense stymied his efforts. Penix and the Falcons welcome the Commanders in for a Week 4 matchup next Sunday, a game that could pit the second-year signal caller against fellow 2024 first-rounder Jayden Daniels if the latter can play through his knee injury.

Penix completed 13 of 21 passes for 135 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in Sunday's 22-6 win over the Vikings.

The Falcons played from ahead for the entire game, and the team was happy to rely on its running game. That limited Penix's pass attempts, though he wasn't all that efficient with his opportunity, averaging only 6.43 yards per attempt while primarily targeting short areas of the field. Atlanta may be able to control their Week 3 matchup against Carolina in similar fashion, which could lead to another quiet performance from Penix.

Penix completed 27 of 42 passes for 298 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions and rushed six times for 21 yards and another score in the Falcons' 23-20 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday. He also committed a fumble recovered by Atlanta.

Penix opened his first full season as a starter in fine fashion, looking poised and in command against a veteran, aggressive Buccaneers defense for most of the afternoon. The southpaw signal-caller leveraged Bijan Robinson's elite yards-after-catch skills on the opening drive, hitting his star running back for a 50-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Penix would go on to cap off an 18-play, 91-yard marathon drive in the fourth quarter with a four-yard touchdown run, and he then drove the Falcons a total of 60 yards in eight plays to put them in position for a would-be game-tying field goal that Younghoe Koo couldn't convert. Penix also lost Drake London to a shoulder injury for that final drive, and it remains to be seen if he'll have his top target available for a Week 2 road showdown with the Vikings next Sunday night.

Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said Thursday that Penix, who did not suit up for any preseason games, is "ready to go" for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

Penix said "I pride myself to make sure that each and every week I'm always ready come game day," though he acknowledged that "the biggest difference is the reps," or lack thereof, as he prepares for the first regular-season start of his NFL career after being a healthy scratch the entire preseason. The presence of star playmakers Bijan Robinson and Drake London will assist Penix in his goal of hitting the ground running, and it's encouraging that Darnell Mooney (shoulder) has returned to practice in a limited capacity and seems to have a shot at playing Week 1. On the other hand, Atlanta's offensive line had looked like one of the team's major strengths the entire offseason, but with Kaleb McGary (leg) now done for the year and swing backup Storm Norton (ankle) out six to eight weeks, third-stringer Elijah Wilkinson is expected to start at right tackle. The lack of reliable blindside protection will be a notable hurdle for the southpaw signal-caller to over come Sunday versus Tampa Bay, and throughout the 20

Penix will not play in Friday's preseason finale against the Cowboys, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Penix and veteran backup Kirk Cousins will both sit out a third consecutive preseason game, with Falcons coach Raheem Morris opting to rest veteran starters until the regular season. Atlanta signed quarterback Emory Jones (concussion) with an injury designation Monday, per Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site, leaving Easton Stick and new signee Ben DiNucci in position for preseason reps versus Dallas.

Penix won't play in Friday's preseason game against the Titans, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Falcons coach Raheem Morris didn't use veteran starters in the preseason last summer, nor in the 2025 preseason opener against Detroit on Friday. Morris also suggested Kirk Cousins may be held out again, in which case Easton Stick and Emory Jones would take QB snaps for a second straight week.

Penix and Kirk Cousins won't play in Friday's preseason game against Detroit, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Falcons coach Raheem Morris made the announcement Monday morning, saying he wants to focus on the lower portion of the depth chart in the first preseason games. Easton Stick and Emory Jones will be Atlanta's quarterbacks Friday night, while Penix and the starters might make an appearance later this preseason.

Penix heads into training camp as Atlanta's undisputed starting quarterback, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Kirk Cousins presumably still wants to be traded, but that didn't stop him from attending spring practices and likely won't keep him out of training camp. He's taking second-team reps now, after the Falcons averaged 32 points per game in Penix's three starts at the end of last season. Bijan Robinson scored two TDs in each of the three games, six total, and Drake London had 352 yards and two TDs on 39 targets. Apart from the QB change and Ryan Neuzil replacing Drew Dalman (Bears) at center, Atlanta's starting offense looks the same as it did last summer. All of the projected 2025 starters were in Atlanta last offseason when offensive coordinator Zac Robinson installed his scheme.

Penix completed 21 of 38 passes for 312 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and rushed once for a five-yard touchdown in the Falcons' 44-38 overtime loss to the Panthers on Sunday.

The rookie signal-caller did his best to try and get the win the Falcons needed to remain in play for a playoff spot, a matter that was rendered moot when the Buccaneers were able to squeak past the Saints in a game being played concurrently. It was still an encouraging showing for Penix, however, who eclipsed the 300-yard mark and threw multiple touchdown passes for the first time as a pro. Penix connected with Drake London from 20 and 21 yards out for his pair of scoring tosses, but he never had a chance to possess the ball in overtime since the Panthers drove down for a game-winning touchdown. Penix got some invaluable experience over the final three games of the regular season and is indisputably entrenched as the Falcons' quarterback heading into the offseason.

Penix completed 19 of 35 pass attempts for 223 yards, one touchdown and one interception while rushing for three yards on two attempts in Sunday's 30-24 overtime loss to the Commanders.

Penix offered mixed fantasy results in Sunday's narrow defeat, throwing his second interception while converting his first touchdown pass as a pro in the overtime loss to Washington. The Falcons opted to switch to the 2024 first-round pick after veteran Kirk Cousins couldn't lead the team to an elevated level of success in 2024. Penix figures to start again for Atlanta in a game the team must win to have a chance of making the playoffs in next Sunday's regular-season finale against Carolina in Week 18.

Penix completed 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards and an interception in Sunday's 34-7 win over the Giants. He added three rushing yards on four carries.

Making his first NFL start, Penix mainly tried to minimize his mistakes as Bijan Robinson and the Falcons' defense each supplied two touchdowns in the rout. The rookie quarterback's longest completion went for only 22 yards, and while he has the arm strength to stretch the field, offensive coordinator Zac Robinson will likely limit Penix to short, high-percentage while Atlanta is still hunting for a playoff spot. The eighth overall pick in the 2024 Draft will face a tougher opponent in a Week 17 clash with the Commanders.

The Falcons announced Tuesday that Penix will be the team's starting quarterback moving forward.

A change at quarterback in Atlanta had been brewing since head coach Raheem Morris expressed frustration over Kirk Cousins' performance following Monday's 15-9 win over the Raiders. Cousins has been struggling over the Falcons' past five games, posting a 1:9 TD:INT while the team has gone 1-4. Penix has gotten into just two games this season, completing three of five passes for 38 yards after being drafted eighth overall in April's NFL Draft. The Washington product was always going to be the Falcons' quarterback of the future given his lofty draft selection, but his time to shine is coming sooner than expected, as Cousins was slated to lead the team this season after signing a four-year, $100-million contract in March. Atlanta is currently 7-7 and one game behind Tampa Bay in the NFC South, so Penix will be playing with the aim of leading the team into the postseason. His first start will come in a soft matchup Sunday versus the 2-12 Giants.

Head coach Raheem Morris said Monday that Penix will remain the backup to starting quarterback Kirk Cousins in the Falcons' Week 15 game in Las Vegas next Monday, Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports. "Kirk is our quarterback. Kirk is still going to lead us," Morris said.

Atlanta has dropped four straight games to fall to 6-7 on the season, and Cousins' ongoing struggles have led to more discussion about a changing of the guard under center. In those four losses, Cousins has completed just 62.4 percent of his passes for 7.6 yards per attempt and a 0:8 TD:INT while also taking eight sacks and fumbling four times (losing none). Cousins' track record and sizable contract looks as though it'll be enough for him to stick atop the depth chart, but another poor showing against a reeling Raiders squad could prompt the Falcons to turn the job over to Penix, the No. 8 overall pick in April's draft. Penix has made just two brief mop-up appearances through the first 14 weeks of the regular season but looked composed during his lone preseason outing, completing nine of 16 pass attempts for 104 yards.

Falcons coach Raheem Morris was emphatic that he would not swap in Penix for the struggling Kirk Cousins, Jay Glazer from Fox NFL Sunday reports.

Peter Schrager earlier reported that Penix didn't take any snaps with the starting offense in practice this week, instead exclusively working with the scout team.

Penix completed his only pass attempt for 14 yards during Sunday's 34-14 loss to the Seahawks.

With the game out of hand, Penix made his NFL regular-season debut. He played seven offensive snaps and completed his only pass to fellow rookie Casey Washington. Despite Sunday's dud, Kirk Cousins has fully shaken off the early-season rust and revitalized Atlanta's offense, so Penix is relegated to backup duties for the foreseeable future.

Penix is expected to be held out of Atlanta's final exhibition game against Jacksonville on Friday, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Penix didn't play in the Falcons' second preseason contest versus Baltimore on Saturday and won't suit up for the team's final exhibition contest either. Head coach Raheem Morris explained that the team feels it "saw enough last week [in Atlanta's preseason opener] of him and the live stuff," adding that "[Penix] showed us last week enough that we don't have to play him in the preseason." The rookie QB completed nine of 16 passes for 104 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions against Miami in Atlanta's first game of the preseason and is slated to open the regular season as the team's backup behind Kirk Cousins.

Coach Raheem Morris said Penix showed enough in his preseason debut last week that the Falcons didn't feel the need to play against the Ravens on Saturday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

This was a surprising decision given that Penix is a first-round-pick and expected to ride pine once the regular season starts, but it perhaps makes more sense in light of the Falcons holding out other highly regarded backups. Both Baltimore and Atlanta largely used Saturday's exhibition to evaluate players at the bottom of the roster or on the wrong side of the bubble, leaving Penix and many others to watch in street clothes. Penix completed nine of 16 passes for 104 yards the previous week in a preseason loss to Miami.

Penix appears unlikely to play in Saturday's preseason game at Baltimore, ESPN's Marc Raimondi reports.

With the rookie in street clothes for warmups and Kirk Cousins not expected to play at all this preseason, the Falcons have Taylor Heinicke and John Paddock to take QB snaps Saturday afternoon. Penix completed nine of 16 passes for 104 yards last Friday in Atlanta's preseason opener against Miami.

Penix started the Falcons' 20-13 preseason loss to the Dolphins on Friday night, completing nine of 16 passes for 104 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

The rookie eighth overall pick played on the Falcons' first five possessions, leading Atlanta to 10 points overall on the third and fourth drives of the contest. Penix displayed solid command of the offense during his time in the game and connected with Chris Blair on a 41-yard pass for the Falcons' biggest pass play of the night. The performance was certainly an encouraging one for a pro debut, and with Kirk Cousins not slated to play this preseason, Penix should be afforded ample playing time again in Atlanta's second exhibition on the road against the Ravens on Aug. 17.

Penix looks slated to start Friday's road exhibition matchup against the Dolphins with Kirk Cousins not in line to play this preseason, Victor Prieto of Fox 5 Atlanta reports.

Penix, the eighth overall pick of April's draft, looks positioned to spend at least his rookie campaign redshirting behind Cousins, so even preseason game reps figure to be valuable for his development. D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Cousins isn't expected to take the field at all this preseason, which should mean Penix is also primed to start versus the Ravens on Aug. 17 and against the Jaguars on Aug. 23, before returning to a backup role at home against the Steelers in Week 1. Coach Raheem Morris declined Wednesday to name a starting quarterback for Atlanta's preseason opener, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports, but the expectation is that Penix will enter the game first, followed by Taylor Heinicke then Nathan Rourke.