Falcons set to start Michael Penix against Packers on Thursday night
News
The short version
- Michael Penix makes his first start of the season Thursday after tearing his ACL last year
- Atlanta went 0-2 with Cooper Rush at quarterback, scoring 16 total points
- Rush threw for 229 yards with one TD and four interceptions before being benched for Jack Strand
- Penix threw nine touchdowns against three interceptions in nine starts last season
Michael Penix returns from an ACL tear to make his first start of the season when Atlanta hosts Green Bay in Week 3 Thursday Night Football.
Atlanta will turn back to Michael Penix at quarterback when it faces Green Bay on Thursday Night Football. It marks the signal-caller's return to game action after an ACL tear last year and his first start of the current campaign.
The Falcons opened the season 0-2 with Cooper Rush, a third-string option, under center. Over those two defeats, the offense produced just 16 points, including 13 in the season opener versus Pittsburgh. Rush compiled 229 passing yards, one touchdown and four interceptions while being brought down behind the line five times, and he was pulled in the Carolina game in favor of undrafted rookie Jack Strand, who was picked off once and sacked twice himself.
Penix made nine starts for Atlanta a season ago. The club went 3-6 in those appearances, but he protected the football well, finishing with nine touchdown passes against three interceptions.
His return is expected to boost the receiving production of Drake London and Kyle Pitts while creating more room on the ground for Bijan Robinson. The Falcons are searching for their first victory of the year against the Packers.
Written by the Matchday Live desk from reporting by Yahoo Sports.
Read the original report at Yahoo Sports ↗