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Michael Penix Jr., who tore his ACL in November and missed Atlanta's final seven games last season, will start for the Falcons against the Packers on Thursday after being named the starter by the team on Monday. The decision comes following a difficult start to the season with losses to the Steelers and an embarrassing 34-3 defeat to the Panthers at home. Penix had recently been cleared to practice fully but was not confirmed as active until ESPN reported Sunday that he could play against Green Bay. Coach Kevin Stefanski initially remained noncommittal about Penix’s status before officially naming him the starter on Monday.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-22,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Michael Penix Jr., who suffered a torn ACL in November 2025, was named the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons against the Green Bay Packers on September 24, just one week after the Falcons' brutal 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons hope that Penix's return will provide a spark to an offense that failed to reach the red zone in their first two games of the season. Penix worked hard during his recovery and is set to play for the first time since November 16, 2025. Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa will back up Penix after missing the first two regular-season games due to an oblique injury. The game, which starts at 8:15 p.m. ET, is streamed exclusively on Prime Video. Despite being winless (0-2), the Falcons aim for their first victory of the season against a Packers team that comes into this home opener with a record of 1-1 following an overtime win over the New York Jets. The game will be played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Written for “Michael Penix Jr Returns Falcons vs P…” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 18 other(s) covering the same event.
The Falcons have named Michael Penix Jr. their starting quarterback for Thursday’s game against the Packers, the team announced on Monday.
asserted
team → name → Monday
It comes after Atlanta started the season 0-2, including a season-opening loss to the Steelers and an embarrassing 34-3 blowout defeat to the Panthers in its home opener, and the offense has struggled massively through the first two games — they failed to run a play in the red zone in either of those matchups.
asserted
they → come → matchups
Penix had surgery in November after tearing his ACL in Week 11, and he missed Atlanta’s final seven games.
asserted
he → have → games
He was cleared to practice fully last month.
asserted
He → clear → ?
ESPN reported on Sunday that Penix could be active against Green Bay, but when head coach Kevin Stefanski spoke with reporters early Monday afternoon, he didn’t say whether the young QB would play.
uncertain
QB → report → reporters
“I will let you guys know,” he said.
asserted
he → let → ?
“I will give you an update when I’ve been able to talk to the players and work through it.
asserted
I → give → it
So I don’t have an update right this minute.
asserted
I → have → update
But again, constant communication with Mike, with all of our guys, so we’ll work through it this week.”
asserted
we → work → it
When he was asked about the report and if Penix was a possibility to play this week, Stefanski said that he couldn’t comment and that “I want to make sure I talk to our players first.”
asserted
I → ask → players
Penix had hoped to start in the season opener, but he had decided he was not ready to play against Pittsburgh.
asserted
he → hop → Pittsburgh
“I just told [head coach Kevin Stefanski] I’m not where I want to be right now,” Penix told reporters on Sept. 7.
asserted
Penix → tell → Sept.
“And I want to be able to be 100 percent so I can help the team win football games.
asserted
team → want → games
And I’m really close.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
The Falcons have not only been managing Penix’s return, but also an injury to Tua Tagovailoa, who has been out with an oblique injury that he suffered just days before the Week 1 game.
asserted
he → manage → game
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