The Atlanta Falcons announced Monday that quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will start against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday.
Penix missed the Falcons' first two games while continuing to rehab from a torn ACL that he suffered in 2025.
The 26-year-old sustained the injury during a contest against the Carolina Panthers, which forced him to miss the final seven games of last season.
Penix was a limited participant during the Falcons' spring workouts and training camp. He was reportedly medically cleared 19 days before the regular season began, but he told the Falcons' coaching staff that he wasn't fully comfortable returning to play.
Last week, Penix split first-team practice reps with Cooper Rush, signaling his potential return to the lineup, according to NFL on Prime's James Palmer.
Atlanta dropped to 0-2 with Sunday's 34-3 loss to the Panthers. Rush got the starting nod to begin the regular season while Penix worked his way back and Tua Tagovailoa remained sidelined with an oblique injury.
The Falcons' offense has struggled to find consistency after recording a league-high five interceptions through two games. Atlanta is also the only team in the NFL that hasn't gotten into the red zone yet.
