Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-21 · by Charles Odum The Associated Press
The Atlanta Falcons have decided to start Michael Penix Jr., their second-round draft pick, as quarterback against the Green Bay Packers after two lackluster performances by interim starter Cooper Rush. The Falcons, currently at 0-2 with only 16 points scored in two games, hope Penix’s improved arm strength will boost their struggling offense. Despite recovering from a torn ACL and still working through his comeback plan, Penix is set to make his debut in Thursday night's game, potentially marking a turning point for the team's season.
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).
A struggling Atlanta Falcons offense in desperate need of improved production at quarterback will have Michael Penix Jr. make his first start in Thursday night’s game at Green Bay.
asserted
Jr. → struggle → Bay
The Falcons (0-2) suffered a 34-3 loss to NFC South rival Carolina in Sunday’s home opener.
asserted
Falcons → suffer → opener
In Cooper Rush’s two games as the fill-in starter, the Falcons have been held to one touchdown and 16 points.
asserted
Falcons → fill → touchdown
Penix’s arm strength made him the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 draft.
asserted
him → make → draft
He has been cautious in his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that ended his 2025 season.
asserted
that → tear → season
He said Wednesday there are “just a couple technical things that I want to hit, some goals that I have, that I want to achieve” before playing in a game.
asserted
I → say → game
He completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,982 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions.
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He → complete → touchdowns
By comparison, Rush and rookie Jack Strand have combined for five interceptions and one touchdown in two games.
asserted
Rush → combine → games
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday “I have a decent idea of where we’re going” at quarterback this week.
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we → say → quarterback
In a possible indication a change was coming, Stefanski said he wanted to tell the team before announcing his plan later Monday.
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he → come → plan
“I talk to Mike every day and and like I’ve told you guys up I’m very confident in our discussions with Mike, with medical, throughout this entire process,” Stefanski said.
asserted
Stefanski → talk → process
Stefanski announced on Sept. 9 Tua Tagovailoa would open the season as the starter, but Tagovailoa was ruled out for the opener at Pittsburgh after he suffered an oblique injury in practice.
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he → announce → practice
Tagovailoa was held out of practice last week and was inactive against Carolina.
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Tagovailoa → hold → Carolina
Stefanski said Monday that Tagovailoa is “Getting better.
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Tagovailoa → say → ?
We’ll work through what that means for this week, but definitely getting better.”
asserted
that → work → week
Rush has completed 22 of 39 passes for 229 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.
asserted
Rush → complete → touchdown
The Falcons signed Rush on July 29 after Tagovailoa opened training camp with tightness in his lower back.
asserted
Tagovailoa → sign → back
What’s working
Very little has gone well for an offense that has scored a combined 16 points in two losses, but the running game remains the biggest reason to believe a recovery is possible.
asserted
recovery → work → losses
Bijan Robinson ran for 72 yards and Brian Robinson added 51 yards against Carolina.
asserted
Robinson → run → Carolina
The Falcons averaged 4.9 yards per carry while rushing for 157 yards.
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Falcons → average → yards
What needs help
Entering Monday, Rush is tied with New England’s Drake Maye for the NFL lead with four interceptions.
asserted
Rush → need → interceptions
Rush didn’t show the necessary arm strength or accuracy to lead the offense or keep the starting job.
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Rush → show → job
Late in the first half, Jahan Dotson was open behind the Panthers’ secondary but had to wait as Rush’s incompletion was underthrown.
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incompletion → have → secondary
On another second-quarter possession, Rush threw high and wide on an attempt to Olamide Zaccheaus and threw wide on another incompletion to an open Drake London.
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Rush → throw → London
Rush lost a fumble on a 9-yard run to open the game.
asserted
Rush → lose → game
The first of five turnovers for the Falcons set up a Carolina touchdown and Atlanta never recovered.
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Atlanta → set → touchdown
Stock up
Strand completed only 8 of 15 passes for 59 yards and had his first pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Devin Lloyd.
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Strand → complete → Lloyd
Even so, Strand’s athleticism and arm strength make him an interesting prospect.
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him → make → ?
“I’m very excited about Jack’s development and the work that he’s putting in,” Stefanski said.
asserted
Stefanski → ’m → that
“To see where he’s come from day one until now, I am really proud of him and he’ll continue to work and he will be better for the reps he got yesterday.”
asserted
he → see → reps
Tight end Kyle Pitts has only one reception for 15 yards through two games.
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Pitts → have → games
He had only three targets against the Panthers and has only four for the season.
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He → have → season
Pitts had 88 catches for 928 yards and five touchdowns in 2025.
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Pitts → have → 2025
Stefanski said Pitts’ limited role does not reflect the team’s plan for the tight end.
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role → say → end
“Kyle’s a big part of what we do,” Stefanski said.
asserted
Stefanski → ’ → what
“I know the production hasn’t been there for him or our offense in the first two games, but that’s not indicative of what we have planned with Kyle because he’s a good football player.”
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he → know → Kyle
Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, who had been questionable with a shoulder injury, left in the first quarter with a groin injury.
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who → leave → injury
Linebacker Samson Ebukam (hamstring) left late in the first half.
asserted
Ebukam → leave → half
RT Jawaan Taylor (ribs) was listed as questionable in the fourth quarter.
asserted
Taylor → list → quarter
Key number
31 — The 34-3 loss was the Falcons’ largest margin of defeat at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which opened in 2017.
asserted
which → open → 2017
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
