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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. reportedly suffered a season-ending knee injury during his team's loss to the NFC South Division rival Carolina Panthers on Sunday (November 16), sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday (November 17).
Penix, who had previously suffered ACL tears twice during his collegiate career, is reportedly seeking a second opinion.
"ESPN sources: Falcons QB Michael Penix suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury during Sunday’s loss to the Panthers. Penix will be seeking a second opinion, but it is not encouraging," Schefter wrote on his X account. "Michael Penix suffered season-ending ACL tears to his left knee in both 2018 and 2020 in college. He also missed a game this season in Week 8 after sustaining a bone bruise to that same knee in Week 7. And now this latest injury could sideline him for the rest of the 2025 season."
Penix sustained the injury during the third quarter of Sunday's game and was replaced by veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is expected to start in his absence. The former University of Washington standout was selected by the Falcons at No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft and has gone 4-8 in 12 starts during his first two NFL seasons, which includes a 3-6 record in 2025, throwing for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions on 166 of 276 passing, while also recording 70 yards and one touchdown on 21 rushing attempts.