Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will undergo season-ending knee surgery after getting a second opinion on the injury, the Falcons announced in a statement shared on their official website Wednesday (November 19).
"After further medical evaluation, it has been determined Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will undergo season-ending surgery for a partially torn ACL," the statement reads.
The Falcons had previously announced that Penix, who had previously suffered ACL tears twice during his collegiate career, would be placed on injured reserve Monday (November 17), which would've required him to miss four games in adherence with league rules, prior to getting 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," ESPN's Adam Schefter wrote on his X account at the time of the initial report on Monday. "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 will start in his absence for the remainder of the season. 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.