Falcons' Michael Penix Jr. Updates Injury Return Timeline Amid 2026 NFL Offseason

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is reportedly getting closer to returning from the reconstructive knee surgery he underwent in November.

Zach Klein of Atlanta's ABC-TV reported Wednesday that Penix said he has already progressed to doing squats just two months after ACL surgery.

Penix underwent surgery on a partially torn ACL in his left knee the week of Nov. 24. A nine-month recovery timeline would place his return around late August.

The quarterback previously tore his right ACL in 2018 and 2020, both times prematurely ending his seasons at Indiana.

Penix suffered his latest ACL injury on the opposite knee after taking a sack in the third quarter of a Week 11 game against the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 16.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank confirmed earlier this month that the surgery Penix underwent one week later had been successful.

"The surgeon felt 1,000 percent secure in the medical procedure they went through, and they really felt his knee was going to be even better than it was before," Blank said. "He's on a successful rehab program. He's back in Atlanta. He's committed mentally, physically. He feels good."

Newly-hired head coach Kevin Stefanski more recently confirmed Tuesday in his introductory press conference that Penix has already returned to the team facility.

"I saw him in the training room this week. He's, as you can imagine, attacking his rehab," Stefanski said.

Stefanski continued, "What's most important right now is for Michael is to get healthy, and he knows that. And we'll get to football here shortly, but he's attacking his rehab."

The Falcons currently have Penix and Kirk Cousins as their only quarterbacks under contract through 2026.

Atlanta recently restructured Cousins' contract to create cap flexibility. The move involved moving almost $68 million into a guaranteed amount set to kick in on March 13, setting the Falcons on track to either renegotiate a new deal or release Cousins by that date, per ESPN's Field Yates.

How Penix has progressed in his recovery by the start of the league year could potentially play a role in whether the Falcons ultimately bring Cousins back for 2026.