Michael Penix Jr.'s return is nigh.
After another week of fully participating in practice but being ruled out, the Falcons quarterback could finally make his first 2026 start in Atlanta's Week 3 game against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday, per sources.
Penix's potential season debut comes just over 10 months since he suffered his latest ACL injury.
The third-year QB was a full participant in practice this week yet again but ceded first-team reps to Cooper Rush on Friday. The 32-year-old journeyman will get his second straight start Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa could also return Thursday night from his oblique injury. Tagovailoa was in line to start Week 1 against Pittsburgh before suffering the injury during practice.
Tagovailoa is expected to practice this week and might be active against Green Bay, serving as Penix's backup, per Rapoport and Schefter.
Despite rumors to the contrary, the ex-Dolphins quarterback is not expected to be moved, either via release or trade, Rapoport and Schefter added. Tagovailoa signed in Atlanta this offseason for the veteran minimum after his release from Miami, who took him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
If neither Penix, himself a 2024 first-round selection, nor Tagovailoa can return by Thursday's Week 3 game, their next opportunity to play is 11 days later. The Falcons open Week 3 on Thursday but close Week 4 with a Monday night game against the rival New Orleans Saints on Oct. 5.
Atlanta (0-1) has been in a quarterback quandary all offseason. Tagovailoa and Penix were expected to battle for the Week 1 QB1 role, but the former was hampered by an early-camp back injury and the latter was cleared to practice in full only late in the summer.
Now with Penix and Tagovailoa returning to near-full health, the Falcons can finally round into form as autumn begins.
