Atlanta Falcons quarterback and former Washington Husky Michael Penix Jr. has just been put on injured reserve by the organization after aggravating a left knee injury he sustained earlier in the season. Reports say that the knee has damage to his ACL -- the ligament that he tore on his right knee twice in college.
While the news doesn't completely rule out a return to action this season, being placed on IR means that Penix has to miss four games at minimum, and with only six games left for the 3-7 Falcons, it may be best to just hold the second-year quarterback out until 2026.
Penix, in his first season as Atlanta's starting quarterback, hasn't had a bad season, but has certainly performed below many's expectations. The 25-year-old has completed 60% of his passes for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and only three interceptions. His yardage places him 20th in the league, sandwiched between Jalen Hurts and Aaron Rodgers, but his touchdown total is 26th in the league.
He simply hasn't shown the high-level accuracy or point production we know he's capable of at the next level, and that has shown in Atlanta's success on the field. Coming into the season as a dark horse in the NFC, the Falcons have floundered to a 3-7 record and are on the outside looking in at playoff contention.
What was thought to be an offensive "Big Three" of Penix, Bijan Robinson, and Drake London at the quarterback, running back, and wide receiver position has instead produced just the 27th-ranked scoring offense in the NFL.
As such, this injury news about Penix has sparked some speculation amongst fans about whether it's time for the Falcons to move on from their young quarterback that they drafted with pick No. 8 in the 2024 NFL Draft.
While that conversation may be premature, nevertheless, it's a devastating situation for Husky fans and Falcons fans who still believe in Penix. After battling through multiple season-ending injuries and coming to Washington to lead a national championship run, Penix will be a fan favorite in Seattle forever.
If anyone can power through an injury and come back better than ever, it's Penix. Time will tell if he's Atlanta's guy at quarterback, but for now, best wishes go towards Penix for a speedy recovery.