The struggling Atlanta Falcons, who have scored 16 total points and are 0-2 through two games, will return starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to the starting lineup on "Thursday Night Football" against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3.
The Falcons announced Penix Jr., who is returning to the field after tearing his ACL in November of last year, as the starting quarterback on Monday. He will get a matchup against Jonathan Gannon and the Packers defense at Lambeau Field in his first start of the 2026 season.
Can Penix Jr. provide a jolt for the Falcons, who are coming off a 34-3 loss, entering a short week and preparing to play the Packers in their home opener on Thursday night?
Backups Cooper Rush and Jack Strand combined to complete 55.9 percent
of passes, throw one touchdown and five interceptions and lead the Falcons on only four scoring drives during the first two weeks. Strand, a Wisconsin native, threw a pick-six on his first career pass attempt in a 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers last week.
Last season, Penix Jr. threw nine touchdown passes and three interceptions and produced an 88.5 passer rating over nine starts. The Falcons were 3-6 in his starts, including losses in each of his final four starts.
Penix was the Falcons' first-round pick in the 2024 draft. Thursday night in Green Bay will be his 13th start in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Struggling Falcons will return QB Michael Penix Jr. for 'TNF' vs. Packers
