The Atlanta Falcons have named Michael Penix Jr. their starting quarterback for Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers, marking his 2026 season debut after a long recovery from a torn ACL.

The announcement came Monday, September 21, after Atlanta dropped to 0-2 with a 34-3 home loss to the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons are the only team in the NFL that has not reached the red zone through two weeks, a symptom of turnovers and inconsistent passing play. And the 2026 schedule is about to get tougher.

Cooper Rush started both games and struggled badly against Carolina (10-of-17 for 86 yards, two interceptions, and a lost fumble) before being replaced by undrafted rookie Jack Strand.

Michael Penix Jr. to Return for Thursday Night Football

Penix, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 draft, last started in Week 11 of 2025 before tearing his left ACL against the same Panthers team. He missed the final seven games after surgery and has been cautious in his return—this is his third major knee injury. He was cleared for 11-on-11 work late in training camp and has been a full participant in recent practices. Last week he said he was “close” and wanted to hit a few remaining technical goals before playing. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and the medical staff have now determined he is ready.

Tua Tagovailoa, signed in the offseason to compete for the job, has been dealing with an oblique injury and has not practiced since before Week 1. He is expected to be available as Penix’s backup. Rush could be inactive.

Penix’s career numbers through 12 starts: 2,757 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions. In 2025 he started nine games (3-6 record) and completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,982 yards, nine TDs, and three INTs before the injury. His low interception rate that year ranked among the league’s best. He will now operate new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees’ scheme with first-round weapons Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts all healthy for the first time this season.

The game is Thursday, September 24, at 8:15 p.m. ET at Lambeau Field and will air on Amazon Prime Video. Green Bay is a 7-point favorite. For a Falcons offense that has scored just 16 points in two games, Penix’s arm talent and mobility represent the clearest chance to generate explosive plays and finally reach the red zone. Whether the short week and limited live reps after a long layoff allow him to produce immediately remains the central question.