Falcons vs Packers: Michael Penix Jr. returns after nearly year-long injury layoff for Thursday Night Football game

Atlanta Falcons management has finally got some reason to cheer in an otherwise dismal start to their season after their quarterback Michael Penix Jr. made his long-awaited return to action against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Thursday Night Football, spending nearly a year on the sidelines due to injury. Penix’s comeback was a big boost for the Falcons, who have eagerly awaited the return of their quarterback. The 26-year-old faced a challenging rehabilitation process before being cleared to play again.



Penix Jr. makes his return to play after overcoming the injury to his torn ACL that occurred in Week 11 last season, coming as a timely reprieve for an Atlanta offense that scored only 16 points in its first two games this season. Atlanta enters the game with an unimpressive record of 0-2 and is struggling significantly passing the ball, holding the worst team passer rating at 38.2 in the entire league. Green Bay, on the other hand, comes in with a record of 1-1.


"Being healthy is what I was targeting. I was never no week-to-week thing," Michael Penix Jr. told reporters, as quoted by SuaraGarut, ahead of his much-awaited return.

"It was being healthy. Whenever I felt like I can go out there, like I said, get out of all that soreness and get stronger each and every day, that’s what it was always about. Once I felt healthy, it felt like I was ready to go... I’m never gonna sit out if I’m healthy.

I knew I wasn’t where I needed to be the first two weeks and now I feel like I’m where I want to be, so that’s why you’ll see me up this week."



While an 0-2 start is far from season-ending in a 17-game campaign, Atlanta has plenty of work to do to get back on track. The Falcons are still without 2025 first-round pick Jalon Walker, but Penix’s return should bring some stability to the offense and provide a welcome lift for key targets Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr.

Atlanta's coaching staff was quite optimistic about Penix’s abilities ahead of their first among three back-to-back-to-back primetime games.

"Very excited for Mike. Obviously, he has a tremendous skill set, and we got to do things that fit him and make him comfortable out there. It's been a little bit since he's played, and [we've] got to make sure that we're doing our job as coaches and the other 10 guys with him, that we give him a great chance to go out there and have success," said Tommy Rees, Offensive Coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons.