Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. left Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers in the third quarter with a knee injury. Backup quarterback Kirk Cousins has taken over the offense with Penix Jr. exiting the game.
With playoff hopes already precarious, Penix’s injury is a big setback for the Falcons.
What Happened to Michael Penix Jr.?
Michael Penix Jr. sustained a knee injury in the third quarter during an incomplete third-down pass. The Falcons quarterback was hit hard and he immediately grabbed his left knee.
Penix Jr. was able to walk off the field on his own, which is good news for the Falcons. He is questionable to return to the game. However, this isn’t the first time Penix Jr. has suffered a knee-related injury. He previously suffered a bone bruise in the same knee earlier this season.
The injury came when Penix Jr. was having a good game, completing 13 of 16 passes for 175 yards. At the time, Atlanta was holding a 21-16 lead.
Falcons HC Clarifies Misinterpretation of Michael Penix Jr.’s Remarks
Michael Penix Jr. recently made controversial remarks regarding his current support system. He included his fiancée and former coaches, making a big part of it. The Internet treated it as if it lacked the support within the Falcons’ coaching staff.
When Falcons head coach Raheem Morris first heard about it, he labeled it as a “joke” while clarifying that’s not the case.
“Stop looking for stuff on a young man,” Morris said. “You don’t need this stuff on him. It is what it is. All those things people do, it doesn’t matter to affect this building.”
Morris also claimed he had a conversation with the quarterback regarding his comments and the two shared a laugh, further confirming that people misinterpreted what Penix Jr. meant.
Quarterbacks coach D.J. Williams also spoke about the situation, as he said:
“I don’t need to have a conversation with Penix about the viral clip. I don’t even pay attention to it, to be honest with you. As long as we know. I mean, everything else is just elevator music.”
Falcons running back Bijan Robinson used this situation to ask his teammates to stay united amid false narratives on the outside.
“Everybody’s here to help,” Robinson said. “Everybody wants you to succeed at the end of the day. So for us, everybody in this building, we all got each other’s back. That’s why I tell everybody, the outside world, the external world is going to try to divide us and try hard. So we got to keep our faith high, and that’s just going to push us through.”
Penix Jr. has led the Falcons to a 3-6 record this season.
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