Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr does, in fact, need surgery to repair his ACL, with 9 months of recovery, at least, coming.

He’s sought the opinion of experts, including from Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Penix has an ACL sprain, but full reconstruction is needed.

Related Players: Kirk Cousins

It'll be the Kirk Cousins show the rest of the way, and if the veteran's play this season is any indication, that's bad news for the offense as a whole. Cousins has earned 0.20 fantasy points per dropback in 2025, a mark that would rank well below the 39th-qualifying quarterback across the league (Cam Ward - 0.25). He can be left on waiver wires in all but the deepest leagues.

While it’s currently unclear whether or not Michael Penix Jr. will miss the rest of the 2025 season, he is at least going to be sidelined for four weeks.

According to a report from NFL Media, Penix is going to be placed on injured reserve after aggravating a bone bruise and knee sprain he initially suffered earlier in the 2025 season.

Related players: Kirk Cousins

Plus, the report notes, there has been damage to Penix’s ACL, which could lead to a full knee reconstruction, the story said. Penix had two ACL tears in his right knee in college, but this injury is to his left knee. Penix will miss the next four weeks for sure but there seems to be a good chance his season is finished. Cousins will get the start in Week 12 and may remain in that spot for the rest of the season.

ESPN sources: Falcons QB Michael Penix suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury during Sunday’s loss to the Panthers.

Related players: Kirk Cousins

Schefter went on to say Penix will be seeking a second opinion, but it is not encouraging, according to his post. The Falcons have been disappointing and inconsistent this season and sit at 3-7. However they are three games back of first place Tampa Bay. Despite rumors, the team kept Cousins, and he'll at least give them a shot week to week. We still need to know more about Penix's injury, but it sounds like Cousins is at least poised to start in Week 11, which is a winnable game on the road at the Saints. Cousins may very well be the starter to close out the season as well, and he's worth a pickup, especially in deeper leagues and superflex leagues.

Falcons quarterback Michael Penix left Sunday’s game against the Panthers with a knee injury.

Kirk Cousins replaced Penix in the third quarter. Penix threw for 175 yards on 13/16 passing before exiting.

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. is day to day with the bone bruise in his knee, but HC Raheem Morris told reporters that he feels “really good” about his QB for Sunday’s game against the Patriots.

Related Players: Kirk Cousins

The Falcons' offense has been quite the rollercoaster ride this season, and it could be another tough one against a good Patriots defense. Penix and Cousins can be left on benches this week, while Darnell Mooney is an interesting WR4 type regardless of who starts.

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is “highly likely” to get the start Sunday against the Dolphins, in place of the injured Michael Penix Jr.

Cousins worked with the first team all week in practice as Penix was limited with a bone bruise in his knee. It would make Cousins’ first start since Week 15 of last season, before the Falcons made the switch to Penix in Week 16. Cousins draws a Miami defense that has ranks dead last in expected points added per play. It’s far from the worst streaming option this week with six teams on a bye.

Falcons HC Raheem Morris told reporters that Michael Penix has bone bruise in his foot that now will leave him day to day.

Related players: Kirk Cousins

The Falcons play an early Sunday game at home against the Dolphins, which is a great matchup. Considering it's a week with six NFL teams on their bye, Penix owners may want to pick up Cousins just to be safe. The earlier start will give owners time to make adjustments if they need to.

In all likelihood, the quarterback capable of breathing life into the Bengals’ season isn’t on the roster.

Current backup Brett Rypien and practice squad quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Mike White are not in consideration to replace Browning this weekend against the Packers.

Any options left open to, theoretically, replace Jake Browning in Green Bay would have to come from outside the building.

Related players: Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston

Reports Tuesday say the team has released White, which could be an indication a new face is on the way in. Three of the bigger names to be stop-gaps until Joe Burrow returns are Cousins, Wilson and Winston, but it remains to be seen if the Bengals pull the trigger and make a deal. The Bengals are hoping to stay in the hunt until Burrow returns and the talent is still there on offense. It also looks like Browning has another chance this week to keep his starting spot.

The first practice of Falcons OTAs is now underway and Kirk Cousins is not on the field. Cousins has made clear he wants to play elsewhere in 2025.

Related Players: Michael Penix Jr., Easton Stick

We've been anticipating a potential trade (Steelers?) for a few months now, but it's been pretty quiet on that front since the NFL Draft. If Cousins finds a Week 1 starting role somewhere, he will return to low-end QB2 range for SuperFlex leagues.

The Kirk Cousins era in Atlanta is over. There was one?

There was. For fourteen games. After five subpar performances, Cousins has been benched for rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

It’s no surprise, given the things Morris said after Monday night’s unexpectedly tight win over the Raiders, and then earlier today, the story pointed out. As the story also added, it's a pretty stunning move considering the team is coming off a win, and they gave Cousins a contract with $100 million guaranteed. Of course, Penix was the eighth overall pick in the NFL Draft this past spring. It's tough to tell what fantasy owners will get if they need to start Penix this week, as it will be a bit of a risky call given it's likely a fantasy playoff game. The weapons are certainly there for him to have some success, and, it's a home game against the Giants. Owners can probably view him in the QB2 range for those type of leagues.