Michael Penix Jr. Injury Update: Falcons QB Sent to IR, 'Potentially' Out For Season

The Atlanta signal caller left Sunday’s game against the Panthers with a knee injury and did not return.

Michael Penix Jr. left Sunday's Falcons game with a knee injury. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Falcons received some unfortunate news about quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on Monday morning.

After leaving Sunday afternoon’s game against the Panthers with a knee injury, the second-year signal-caller is being placed on injured reserve with a left knee injury, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

The Falcons are placing QB Michael Penix Jr. on injured reserve, per source, with his left-knee injury. They're working through it with specialists now to determine the severity. But it is an ACL injury.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) November 17, 2025

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero also reported Penix re-aggravated a bone bruise in his left knee while also damaging his ACL, "which could mean a full reconstruction." ESPN’s Adam Schefter added the injury is potentially season-ending and, while Penix Jr. will receive a second opinion, “it is not encouraging.”

With his team up 21-16 over Carolina midway through the third quarter, the 25-year-old attempted a pass before landing awkwardly on his left knee. He was replaced by backup Kirk Cousins, went to the locker room, and did not return.

FREE NEWSLETTER. SI BTN Newsletter. Start off your day with SI:CYMI. dark

The Falcons ended up losing 30–27 to the Panthers in overtime, dropping them to 3–7 on the 2025 season.

Michael Penix Jr. Injury History

Michael Penix Jr. has suffered several knee injuries throughout his career. / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Penix Jr. has a long-standing history of injuries. Not only did the quarterback miss the Falcons’ Week 8 contest against the Dolphins with a bone bruise in his left knee—the same one he hurt on Sunday—but he also suffered a handful of season-ending knee injuries throughout his college career.

During his 2018 season with Indiana, Penix Jr. suffered a torn ACL in his right knee that put an end to his true freshman campaign. Then just over two years later, he re-tore the same ACL in a game against Maryland—sidelining him for the remainder of the '20 season.

Penix Jr. also suffered multiple season-ending shoulder injuries (2019, ‘21) during his time with the Hoosiers, before finally putting together two healthy campaigns with the Washington Huskies in '22 and '23.

Unfortunately, said injury bug seems to be back. Here’s to hoping Penix Jr. can return to full health before the 2026 NFL season.

---

More NFL on Sports Illustrated

feed