Michael Penix Jr. Suffers Injury On Sunday

The Atlanta Falcons sit at 3-6 heading into the final stretch of the 2025 season with little margin for error remaining. Their playoff hopes took another hit during Week 11 against the Carolina Panthers when quarterback Michael Penix Jr. left the game with an injury. The incident occurred on a third-down play late in the contest, forcing the Falcons to turn to backup Kirk Cousins to protect their lead.

“QB Michael Penix Jr. has a knee injury and is questionable to return,” Tori McElhaney shared on X.

QB Michael Penix Jr. has a knee injury and is questionable to return.

— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) November 16, 2025

Cousins came in and kept the offense steady, but things swung late when Tetairoa McMillan scored and Bryce Young followed with a successful two-point try, giving Carolina a 27-24 lead. Cousins didn’t fold, though. He put together a clutch drive that evened the score at 27-27 and pushed the game into overtime.

For Falcons fans, the biggest sigh of relief came from reports that Michael Penix Jr. walked out of the medical tent on his own, hinting the injury might not be as serious as it first looked. The Falcons will monitor his status throughout the week as they prepare to face the New Orleans Saints in Week 12.

Penix delivered one of his best performances this season before exiting the game. He guided Atlanta to 21 first-half points and helped build a 21-10 halftime advantage. The offense slowed considerably after the break as Carolina gradually closed the gap.

Special teams turnovers and inconsistent execution allowed the Panthers to stay within striking distance throughout the second half. The injury occurred when an unblocked defender reached Penix on a blitz.

His removal from the game appeared precautionary, given the circumstances and Atlanta’s lead at the time. Cousins now has another opportunity to demonstrate his readiness for a potential starting role in 2026 if Penix remains sidelined moving forward.

The post Michael Penix Jr. Suffers Injury On Sunday appeared first on The Cold Wire.