After being fully cleared to return from an ACL injury that ended his 2025 season prematurely, former Washington Huskies star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will not be active for the Atlanta Falcons' season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Instead, veteran Tua Tagovailoa, who struggled during the preseason, will get the starting nod. Many believed that, even without playing in the preseason while he rehabbed from the injury, Penix would have a chance to win the starting job, but the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft told head coach Kevin Stefanski he's not quite ready to return to action.
“I just told him, I’m not where I want to be right now,” Penix told the media. “I want to be able to be 100 percent so I can help this team win
football games, and I’m really close. Really close.”
Falcons HC Kevin Stefanski told reporters today that Tua Tagovailoa will be the starter, Cooper Rush will be the backup, and Michael Penix will be inactive Sunday. Penix is not physically ready. pic.twitter.com/z0q7oMihL8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 7, 2026
After being cleared to return to full contact and team practices on August 22, after only participating in 7-on-7 and individual drills before then, but Penix has played it safe with his recovery after undergoing the third knee surgery of his career, something his head coach has been supportive of.
"This will continue to be something that we work on together with Mike," Stefanski said. "We're all on the same page...myself, our medical staff, Mike, everyone...and everybody feels good about where Mike is heading. He'll continue just to work like crazy, and that's his focus."
"You can get cleared for 11-on-11, or you get cleared for a game, but then you have to be able to do your job. I can think of offensive tackles over the years that sure, they're cleared to play, but are you able to function at the level that you need to function at?"
With more time to get reps in practice in the coming weeks, Penix could return to the field early in the season, especially if Tagovailoa's preseason struggles carry over.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Michael Penix Jr. to be inactive in Atlanta Falcons opener
