With the Atlanta Falcons facing the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 on Thursday Night Football, the game is going to feature the return of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., as it's been a long recovery from a partially torn ACL last season. As Penix was named the Falcons' starter after a 0-2 start to the season, led by Cooper Rush with Tua Tagovailoa dealing with an oblique issue, the new starter would give insight into his thinking as he prepares for the upcoming game.
While there was speculation regarding when Penix was healthy enough to play, the 26-year-old would set the record straight, according to Tori McElhaney.
“I love this sport. I am never going to sit out if I am healthy,” Penix said.
Looking ahead to his first start since Nov. 16 where suffered the ACL injury, Penix said he spoke to head coach Kevin Stefanski after Atlanta's 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers and also on Monday to “confirm he was good to go for this week.” Penix also expressed going through a “pretty rigorous workout” before the Panthers loss on Saturday, revealing that his body responded with “complete normalcy.”
“Penix mentioned that following his ramp-up into the season and Week 1 that he experienced quite a bit of soreness that he had to work through,” McElhaney wrote on X. “That is why the workout he did Saturday that resulted in no soreness was an important hurdle for him to clear.”
At any rate, it'll be a special moment for Penix to return to the field for Thursday night's game against the Packers, as he looks to lead the Falcons to their first win of the season.