The sophomore slump has Michael Penix Jr. in the Walls of Jericho.
Atlanta Falcons 2nd-year QB—surrounded by Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Drake London and Kyle Pitts (eh)—Michael Penix leading this team to only 3 wins.
Here’s where he ranks amongst his peers this season:
- 1,982 passing yards (20th in NFL)
- 88.5 passer rating (24th)
- 9 passing touchdowns (26th)
- 60.1% completion percentage (30th)
Heading into Atlanta’s rematch against the Carolina Panthers, my expectations for Michael Penix Jr similar to how I felt before I pressed play on the Minecraft movie. (I did not enjoy the Minecraft movie. Or honestly even finish it.)
Last time the Falcons and Panthers played, Carolina held Atlanta’s heads under water for 2 hours, 30-o curb stomping—Penix 18-for-36 (50%) with 172 yards and two interceptions (Penix, with only 3 INTs on the year, threw almost all of them to Panthers).
This week, a clean game.
13-for-16 with 175 yards and 112.2 passer rating—jumped last encounter, Penix Jr was smooth as hell out there.
Until a 3rd quarter knee injury, sidelining the newly confident QB—replacing him with Kirk Cousins, white Russell Wilson—absolutely terrified every time he drops back, no idea where the ball is going when it leaves his hands.
Kirk Cousins has breached that critical Late Stage Drew Brees/Ben Roethlisberger line where his arm strength probably isn’t ever coming back pic.twitter.com/B823ql3D1a
— Christian D’Andrea (@TrainIsland) November 16, 2025
Tough seeing Michael Penix go down in a game where a win potentially propels him to finish the season strong—breathes some life and hope to Atlanta.
Kirk Cousins—after years of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars—will end his career in a chorus of boos from a city he’s too frightened to visit after the sun goes down.
Bad news for Falcons fans, and just all NFL enjoyers, Kirk Cousins will be Atlanta’s QB1 for the foreseeable future…
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will undergo season-ending surgery for a partially torn ACL in his left knee, the team announced Wednesday. Atlanta had previously said the QB would go on injured reserve after suffering the knee injury during Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. (Athletic)
So, what’s next for Michael Penix Jr?
I loved Michael Penix Jr coming out of Washington.
Great arm and the boys seemed to enjoy him—a leader of men.
But he tore his right ACL twice in college.
In 8 seasons between college and the NFL, this is Penix’s 5th season-ending injury.
When Penix begins a new season, it’s more than a 50% chance he isn’t healthy enough to finish it.
That’s a problem.
See, the end of the season is when the big games start.
It’s not really the time when a serious organization wants to give the keys to Kirk Cousins for the home stretch.
Penix is currently stuck in a realm between slumping and sucking.
His second-year struggle could simply be the result of NFL defenses learning his strengths and weaknesses, Penix needing more playing time to discover new counters or develop new strengths or improve on those weaknesses.
Or, he could just suck.
I imagine Penix enters every game, or maybe sits in the locker room at halftime—also, trying to figure out if opposing defenses are better or if he is underqualified for the role of franchise QB.
Every day, I wonder the same about myself, “Hey, am I stuck in a rut that I can climb out of, or am I in a rut because I suck?” Probably the latter.
With Penix Jr spending almost all of his winters in a walking boot, snowstorms spent injury rehabbing, Penix frequently playing physical catch-up when training camp begins after months of crutching around his house.
Should the Atlanta Falcons move on from Michael Penix Jr?
For who? If Atlanta was swimming in an ocean of options, they wouldn’t be so committed to the injury-prone QB—who, so far this season, at best, is like, the 18th-best quarterback in the NFL.
Falcons only two years removed from Desmond Ridder—the floor is the Earth’s core.
Michael Penix, only 25 years old, at least a decade-worth of ball left in his system—with flashes of brilliance in his game, from time-to-time.
Trying to build an NFL roster of guys who won’t get hurt is like going to a strip club and hoping you don’t get any sparkles on you.
Every NFL play is a car crash.
Michael Penix Jr will get hurt again. Every player in the league will get hurt again.
Again, look at the alternative…
Kirk Cousins with his 2nd interception of the day 🫣
pic.twitter.com/c8cgpMQczF— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) September 8, 2024
Get Penix to get the ball out faster to avoid big hits, call plays that allow him to do just that, handcuff Kirk Cousins to the bench. Repeat.
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