Michael Penix Jr. could make his 2026 debut Thursday night when the Atlanta Falcons visit the Green Bay Packers, Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Sunday.
The third-year quarterback has not played since partially tearing the ACL in his left knee in a Nov. 16 loss to the Carolina Panthers. He was ruled out Friday for a second straight game.
That leaves Cooper Rush under center again Sunday, when the Panthers visit Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Atlanta’s 1 p.m. ET home opener. Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski announced the plan after Friday’s practice.
“Cooper will start. Jack will be the backup,” Stefanski said. “We’ll continue; like I’ve told you guys all along, we’ll work through it. Feel good about where we are, and feel good about putting a plan together to go find a way to win, and that’s what we’re charged to do.”
Jack Strand, the backup, is an undrafted rookie out of Division II Minnesota State Moorhead.
Thursday was always circled on the calendar.
Rapoport and Schefter reported that Penix split practice reps with Rush last week before he was ruled out, work done with the short turnaround in mind. Week 3 has been the target for his return from the start, according to the report.
Tua Tagovailoa is also trending toward a return. He injured his oblique while preparing to start the opener and is listed as doubtful Sunday, but ESPN’s report said he should practice this week and could be active against Green Bay. The report added that the Falcons are not expected to move on from Tagovailoa, even with four healthy quarterbacks on the roster.
Tagovailoa signed a one-year, $1.215 million veteran minimum deal with Atlanta in March after the Miami Dolphins released him. Miami still owes him $54 million in guaranteed money for 2026.
He threw for 2,660 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 14 games for the Dolphins last season. Miami benched him for the final three games.
Before his injury, Penix completed 166 of 276 passes for 1,982 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions across nine starts in 2025. Atlanta selected him eighth overall in 2024, and he has made 12 career starts.
Rush has not given the Falcons much reason to wait. He completed 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in last Sunday’s 20-13 loss at Pittsburgh, and one of those interceptions was returned for a touchdown. His 2.6 QBR was the lowest in the league in Week 1, per ESPN.
Stefanski has kept his own timeline for Penix vague. He said Friday he felt “really confident in the plan” for the quarterback.
“When he’s ready, he’ll be ready,” Stefanski said.
The club has given no public indication that Thursday is locked in.
Should Penix or Tagovailoa need more time, the schedule offers it. After Thursday’s 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff at Lambeau Field, Atlanta does not play again until a Monday, Oct. 5 trip to face the New Orleans Saints.
The NFL trade deadline falls Nov. 10, and ESPN’s report noted Tagovailoa could become a trade candidate if he plays and impresses before then. This week’s injury reports will be the first official sign of whether either quarterback is on track for Green Bay.
