The Atlanta Falcons will get both Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa back for their Week 3 matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football.
Penix will make his return from the knee injury he suffered last season and start Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video. Tagovailoa, meanwhile, has returned to practice and is expected to serve as Penix's backup in Green Bay.
The Athletic's Josh Kendall shared an update Wednesday on X, formerly known as Twitter, regarding Tagovailoa's recovery from an oblique injury.
“Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) ‘is trending in the right direction’ to be ready to be Atlanta's backup Thursday,” Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said, according to Kendall.
Stefanski also praised Tagovailoa's approach while working his way back.
Stefanski called Tagovailoa an “awesome teammate,” adding, “He’s working very, very hard to get himself back, ultra supportive, great guy to have around the building.”
Michael Penix Jr., Tua Tagovailoa set to return for Falcons' Week 3 vs. Packers
James Palmer of NFL on Prime Video later reported that both quarterbacks are expected to be available against Green Bay.
“Not only has Michael Penix returned and will start Thursday vs the Packers, Tua Tagovailoa will serve as his backup in Green Bay I'm told,” Palmer wrote on X. “Both good to go.”
The timing could not be much better for an Atlanta team searching for answers after a difficult start to the season.
The Falcons enter Thursday at 0-2 and are coming off an embarrassing 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. Atlanta will now turn to Penix as it attempts to avoid an 0-3 start.
Green Bay enters the matchup at 1-1, giving Penix a challenging assignment in his first game back. However, Atlanta will also have Tagovailoa available behind him as the Falcons try to secure their first win of the season.