Falcons name Michael Penix Jr. starter for Thursday Packers game
Head coach Kevin Stefanski officially named Michael Penix Jr. as the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons in Thursday night's match against the Green Bay Packers. The decision comes after a 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers, which marked the end of Cooper Rush's tenure at the top of the depth chart. Penix, who has been sidelined since November 2025 following a third career ACL tear, has cleared his reconstructed left knee to take the field.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski officially named Michael Penix Jr. as the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons in Thursday night's match against the Green Bay Packers. The decision comes after a 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers, which marked the end of Cooper Rush's tenure at the top of the depth chart. Penix, who has been sidelined since November 2025 following a third career ACL tear, has cleared his reconstructed left knee to take the field.
The Falcons' offensive struggles have been stark through two weeks. The unit has managed only 16 total points and has not recorded a single snap inside the red zone. Rush, who started the second game after a 2.6 QBR in the opener, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble before being benched in the third quarter. Undrafted rookie Jack Strand entered in relief and threw a pick-six, capping a difficult stretch for the passing game. This marks the sixth different Week 1 starting quarterback for Atlanta in six years.
Stefanski delayed the announcement until Monday afternoon to address the locker room directly. He noted that constant communication with Penix and the rest of the roster allowed the staff to work through the transition during the week. The coaching staff held off on making the change official until they could speak with the players and finalize the plan.
Penix faces a heavy ask on a short week at Lambeau Field. With limited practice reps, he must navigate Green Bay's pass rush immediately. His arm strength offers the Falcons a better chance to back defenses off, potentially opening lanes for running back Bijan Robinson. The offensive line will also aim to get Drake London and Kyle Pitts more involved in the passing attack. The team is looking for any sign of life from an offense that hit rock bottom during a 0-2 start.
The next milestone is the Thursday night game against the Packers. Fans and analysts will watch to see if Penix can stabilize the unit and provide a spark for the Atlanta Falcons.
Filed by the newsroom of MarketPR on September 21, 2026. Source: foxnews.com. Indicative figures are not investment advice.