Nov 16, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) throws the ball in the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Falcons will have to figure out life without quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for a while as he recovers from surgery on his ACL.

Penix will miss the rest of the season with an ACL sprain that will require a full reconstruction, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Rapoport estimates that Penix will at least need nine months to recover after surgery, the third ACL surgery of his football career after undergoing two ACL surgeries in college.

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That would put Penix being cleared for play in mid-August 2026, which would knock him out of all of the team's offseason activities and for a good bit of training camp and the preseason. Of course, it could always take longer.

The Falcons will need a good backup option at the position in 2026, particularly if Penix misses a good bit of 2026. If he needs a full year to recover, that would knock him out for most of the 2026 season.

It's a tough blow for Penix and the Falcons, who will have to hope he can recover as quickly as possible.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: When will Michael Penix Jr. return from his ACL injury for Falcons?

Reporting by Cory Woodroof, For The Win / For The Win

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