The Atlanta Falcons are set to receive a much-needed boost to their offense on Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers.
Michael Penix Jr. will return under center for the Falcons after suffering from another torn ACL last season. The first two weeks of the season saw Cooper Rush at QB, the team's original third-string option after signing him this summer. Rookie undrafted free agent Jack Strand was thrown into the mix after Rush wasn't getting it done and threw a pick-six on his very first pass in the NFL. The fans had seen enough.
After a 0-2 start, and with James Pearce Jr. sidelined and Jalon Walker out with an injury, the Falcons will need a boost on a short week after they were blown out again by the Carolina Panthers in Week
2. The QB play was beyond bad. Zero red zone trips, and the Falcons have not been able to sustain drives at all.
Cooper Rush was said to have a QB rating of just over 38.3, and if Atlanta had spiked the ball into the ground every single snap so far, their rating would be 39.6. But will they get back on track by adding a healthy Michael Penix Jr. as a starter and Tua Tagovailoa as the backup? What is Penix Jr. walking back into?
Rumors swirled that the organization's highest-ranking official had medically cleared Penix Jr. for the game against the Panthers. Still, he chose not to play because he didn't meet the personal goals and numbers set during his rehab. It will not be a warm welcome back if he struggles.
Penix Jr. will need to distribute the ball to the heavy hitters who are eating up the salary in Atlanta. Bijan Robinson will do what he does, but Kyle Pitts and Drake London will need targets and will need to capitalize on them, as everything will now fall into the QB's lap if things do not go smoothly to get back on track. Penix Jr. has the talent to get the ball downfield, but at what cost will he be able to scramble out of the pocket if need be? Will the knees allow it? Or has he lost a step?
If QB1 can't do it, I would expect the organization to keep him on a short leash if the rumors about him being cleared and not returning are true. Tua Tagovailoa needs to have his chin strap fastened and his cleats double-knotted against the Green Bay defense in prime time on Thursday night. Either way, the fans want this team to make it back to the playoffs and become relevant again. If either QB goes out and plays well, all the negativity will disappear. But they'll need consistency.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Will return of Michael Penix Jr. be enough to ignite the Falcons?
