Michael Penix Jr. waited nearly 10 months to get back on an NFL field. On Thursday night in Green Bay, the wait ended with a statement.
Making his first start since tearing his left ACL in Week 11 last season, Penix completed 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards, one touchdown and one interception as the Atlanta Falcons rolled to a 35-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The win was Atlanta’s first of the season and a sharp contrast to the offense’s struggles in the first two weeks.
Penix Returns From ACL Rehab, Beats Packers
Penix was not ready for the preseason finale in August. Teammates recalled him becoming emotional in the locker room because he knew his body still needed more time. On Thursday, that patience paid off. After an interception on the opening series, he settled in quickly. Over the second and third quarters he went 13-of-15 with a touchdown and converted all five third-down attempts. His scoring pass was a 5-yard toss to tight end Austin Hooper just before halftime.
Drake London was the primary beneficiary, catching nine passes for a career-high 194 yards. Bijan Robinson added 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. The combination of Penix’s accuracy, London’s production and Robinson’s workload produced the kind of balanced attack the Falcons lacked while Penix recovered.
Atlanta entered the game 0-2 after scoring just 16 points combined in its first two contests. Tua Tagovailoa was slated to start Week 1 but suffered an oblique injury days before the opener; Cooper Rush then dealt with back spasms. The result was an anemic offense that failed to take a red-zone snap for 27 consecutive series to start the season. That drought ended Thursday.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski praised the work Penix put in behind the scenes—extra weight-room sessions, treatments, and field work with only trainers present. Teammates described him as eager to return and important to the locker room. Penix himself pointed to finding a rhythm after the early interception and said the group still has plenty to clean up on film.
The Falcons remain a work in progress at 1-2, but the quarterback who spent the offseason rehabbing an ACL is now back under center. For one night in Green Bay, that was enough to revive the attack.
