Falcons QB Michael Penix To Undergo Season-Ending ACL Surgery
The Falcons announced on Wednesday that second-year quarterback Michael Penix would undergo season-ending surgery on his left knee to address a partially-torn ACL.
Penix went down in the third quarter of Sunday’s win over the Panthers. He was replaced by Kirk Cousins and did not return. At first thought to be a re-aggravation of the bone bruise Penix suffered in October, further testing revealed that he also sustained a partial ACL tear and a knee sprain. With Atlanta all-but-eliminated from the playoffs, the team opted to shut their 26-year-old quarterback down in the hopes that he can return for the start of the 2026 season.
Cousins will move forward as the Falcons’ starter in yet another twist in the 37-year-old’s 14-year career. He arrived in Atlanta in March 2024 on a four-year, $160MM contract ($90MM fully guaranteed) and the intention to start for at least a few years. Instead, the Falcons drafted Penix in the first round of the 2024 draft and installed him as the starter for the last three games of his rookie season. It seemed like Cousins’ time in Atlanta was over, but his contract made it impossible for the Falcons to trade or release him. Instead, they held onto him as the most expensive and experienced backup in the league with the expectation of parting ways in 2026.
Penix’s injury therefore creates a huge opportunity for Cousins to rebuild his stock after a poor debut season in Atlanta. 2024 was his worst year as a starter, featuring a league- and career-high 16 interceptions and a career-low 88.6 passer rating. He now has a chance to audition for a starting job elsewhere next season. His lone start this year, a 34-10 loss to the Dolphins in Week 8, did not show much improvement. He completed just 21 of his 31 passing attempts for 173 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions, and a 81.8 passer rating. Taking over as the full-time starter could yield better results, though he will be without star wideout Drake London for at least one week.
Head coach Raheem Morris said (via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall) that practice squad QB Easton Stick will be signed to the active roster to serve as Cousin’s backup. Stick’s spot was filled by former Buccaneer Kyle Trask, who will now be the Falcons’ third-string quarterback.
Morris did not outline a timetable for Penix’s return. He will need a full reconstruction, according NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, with an estimated recovery time of at least nine months. Depending on the exact date of his surgery, that would position Penix to return just before the start of the 2026 regular season. Morris said (via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) that the Falcons will have to reevaluate their approach to the quarterback position this offseason. Whether or not that includes retaining Cousins remains to be seen.
This is the third torn ACL and reconstructive surgery of Penix’s career. The first two came in 2018 and 2020 and impacted his right knee, while his current partial tear is in his left knee. He will be entering his third NFL season coming off a major injury with legitimate questions about his potential as a long-term starter in the NFL. In 14 appearances, Penix has recorded a 59.6% completion rate, 7.2 yards per attempt, and a 85.8 passer rating. The Falcons have a 4-8 record in his 12 starts and will almost assuredly miss the postseason this year.
Next year will be a major test for Penix’s ability to bounce-back and prove that he is Atlanta’s franchise quarterback. The Falcons have to make a decision on his fifth-year option (for the 2028 season) during the 2027 offseason and may also be evaluating Penix against any other quarterbacks they pick up during his absence.
Falcons Place LB Divine Deablo On IR, Activate S Jordan Fuller
Linebacker Divine Deablo has been superb in his first season with the Falcons, but the team will go without him for the foreseeable future. The Falcons placed Deablo on IR with a broken forearm on Saturday. He’ll miss at least four games and won’t be eligible to return until Week 12.
[RELATED: Kirk Cousins To Start Week 8]
A former third-round pick and a Raider for the first four seasons of his career, Deablo left Las Vegas to sign a two-year, $14MM pact with Atlanta last March. The deal worked out well for the Falcons until Deablo suffered his injury in a loss to the 49ers last Sunday.
Over six games this year (all starts), Deablo has tallied 24 tackles, four passes defensed, a fumble recovery, and a half-sack. Opposing quarterbacks have mustered a weak 79.6 passer rating when they’ve thrown Deablo’s way. Not surprisingly, Pro Football Focus ranks Deablo’s overall performance seventh among 78 qualifying linebackers.
Thanks in part to Deablo, Atlanta’s defense ranks second in the NFL in yards per game allowed and eighth in points surrendered this year. Second-year linebacker JD Bertrand will be among those tasked with filling in for Deablo. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said this week he’ll take a “committee” approach in replacing the 6-foot-3, 223-pound Deablo, who combines a linebacker’s size with the athleticism of a defensive back (via Scott Kennedy of SI.com).
While Deablo is now on injured reserve, the Falcons brought back safety Jordan Fuller from IR on Saturday. The former Ram and Panther signed a one-year deal with the Falcons last March, joining Deablo as an offseason free agent pickup. He played 16 of his 17 snaps on special teams in a Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers before succumbing to a knee injury. With 56 career starts, Fuller will give the Falcons experienced depth behind the starting safety tandem of Jessie Bates and Xavier Watts.
Linebacker/defensive back Ronnie Harrison will join Fuller as part of Atlanta’s ‘D’ on Sunday against Miami. The Falcons signed Harrison from their practice squad to their 53-man roster on Saturday. They also elevated quarterback Easton Stick and wide receiver Dylan Drummond from their P-squad.
With backup quarterback Kirk Cousins considered ” highly likely” to start in place of usual starter Michael Penix Jr., who’s dealing with a knee injury, Stick’s elevation likely indicates that Penix will be inactive on Sunday. Since Stick isn’t on the 53-man roster, only two quarterbacks will be active for tomorrow’s game. If Penix is able to start, Stick will likely be designated the inactive third quarterback, but with things trending towards Cousins starting behind center to start tomorrow’s game, Penix could be the inactive passer.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC South
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints moves are noted below.
Atlanta Falcons
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Chris Blair, CB Cobee Bryant, WR Dylan Drummond, OL Joshua Gray, S Ronnie Harrison, CB C.J. Henderson, OLB Khalid Kareem, K Lenny Krieg, WR Nick Nash, T Brandon Parker, TE Joshua Simon, QB Easton Stick, DL Kentavius Street, T Carter Warren, RB Carlos Washington
Carolina Panthers
Claimed:
- CB Damarri Mathis (from Broncos), WR Dalevon Campbell (from Chargers)
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Krys Barnes, CB Shemar Bartholomew, OLB Boogie Basham, DE Jared Harrison-Hunte, OL Jarrett Kingston, LB Maz Mwansa, TE Bryce Pierre, WR Ja’seem Reed, CB Mike Reid, DT Sam Roberts, WR/PR Ainias Smith, T Mike Tarquin, S Trevian Thomas, OL Brandon Walton
New Orleans Saints
Claimed:
- WR Trey Palmer (from Buccaneers), G Xavier Truss (from Broncos)
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Kevin Austin, DL Jonah Williams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Signed to practice squad:
- DL Adam Gotsis
Falcons Cull Roster To 53 Players
The Falcons trimmed their roster down to 53 players with the following moves:
Released
- S Jordan Fuller
- LB Ronnie Harrison
- CB C.J. Henderson
- EDGE Khalid Kareem
- OT Brandon Parker
- QB Easton Stick
- DL Kentavius Street
- CB Keith Taylor
Waived
- DL Simeon Barrow Jr.
- S Henry Black
- WR Chris Blair
- CB Cobee Bryant
- RB Jashaun Corbin
- WR Dylan Drummond
- OL Joshua Gray
- K Lenny Krieg
- CB Dontae Manning
- WR Nick Nash
- TE Joshua Simon
- RB Carlos Washington Jr.
- OL Jordan Williams
Placed on injured reserve (designated to return)
- DL Ta’Quon Graham
- OL Storm Norton
Placed on reserve/PUP
Placed on reserve/NFI
- LB Malik Verdon
Released from IR with injury settlement
- OL Jake Hanson
Fuller, Harrison, and Henderson all have previous starting experience in the secondary, though Harrison has since converted to linebacker and exclusively played special teams last season. Fuller missed half of the 2024 season due to injury, while Henderson, a former top-10 draft pick, spent the year with the Steelers but didn’t appear in a regular-season game.
With right tackle Kaleb McGary landing on season-ending IR, Parker could be a candidate to have a handshake agreement to be signed to the practice squad and remain in the team’s game day plans for the season. He will be crucial tackle depth with Norton sidelined for at least four weeks (and likely more) after ankle surgery
Bryant was a projected Day 3 pick who surprisingly went undrafted. Though he didn’t do enough to make the 53-man roster, the Falcons are hoping that he can clear waivers and return to the practice squad, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Though Younghoe Koo is coming off a down year, the Falcons are sticking with the veteran kicker and waived Krieg, a German-born rookie. The Falcons are planning to re-sign him to the practice squad if he clears waivers, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. As an international player, Krieg is eligible to be an extra, 17th player on Atlanta’s practice squad.
Washington is expected to spend his third NFL season on the Falcons’ practice squad, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was only elevated once in 2024 and played exclusively special teams in that game.
Graham started 16 games over his first four years in the NFL but saw his snap share drop to a career low in 2024. He’ll be out for a minimum of four games with an undisclosed injury.
Falcons Sign QB Easton Stick
As the Kirk Cousins/Falcons staredown continues, the team has added some additional depth at the position. The Falcons announced today that they’ve signed quarterback Easton Stick.
[RELATED: Falcons Unlikely To Take Day 3 Pick For Kirk Cousins]
Stick was a fifth-round pick by the Chargers back in 2019, and he ended up sticking around through his rookie contract and a pair of one-year extensions. He barely got off the bench during his first few years as one of Justin Herbert‘s backups, with the likes of Tyrod Taylor and Chase Daniel getting any leftover reps.
Stick finally got a shot to show his stuff during the 2023 campaign, when he got four starts filling in for Herbert. He showed some signs of being a capable fill-in during his brief stint as the QB1. In those four contests, Stick completed 65.3 percent of his passes, tossed three touchdowns vs. one interception, and added 144 rushing yards. On the flip side, the Chargers were winless in those four games, and Stick also lost three fumbles.
In Atlanta, Stick should have a secured roster spot, but his standing on the depth chart will continue to be in flux. Right now, he’s the QB3 behind Michael Penix Jr. and Cousins, who is pushing for an exit out of Atlanta. If the Cousins/Falcons divorce comes to fruition, then Stick could step up as the main backup to Penix. Emory Jones is also on the roster as some additional depth.
We heard just the other day that the organization was expected to add a veteran backup passer in the coming months. It’s uncertain if Stick would qualify as a “veteran” option for the organization, but he fits the bill as a potential QB2.
Falcons Trade QB Taylor Heinicke To Chargers
Taylor Heinicke is heading to Los Angeles. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that the Falcons are trading the quarterback to the Chargers. Atlanta will receive a conditional sixth-round pick in return. The conditions of that pick are based on playing time, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
[RELATED: Falcons Hoping To Trade QB Taylor Heinicke?]
We heard earlier this month that the Falcons were eyeing a Heinicke trade. While the veteran represented the team’s lone holdover at the position, his future was uncertain after the Falcons revamped their depth chart this offseason. First, the front office signed Kirk Cousins to a lucrative contract, and they later surprised many when they selected Michael Penix Jr. in the first round. That left Heinicke without a clear role on the team.
While the Falcons generally opted for three active QBs in 2023 while taking advantage of the league’s emergency quarterback spot, it sounded like the team preferred to stash their QB3 on the practice squad for the 2024 campaign. Atlanta ultimately carried Heinicke on the 53-man roster through final roster cuts, but they’ll now move forward with only a pair of QBs on their active roster.
While Heinicke was pushed off the roster in Atlanta, it’s not necessarily a reflection of his standing in the league. The former UDFA had a successful two-year stint in Washington between 2021 and 2022, guiding his squad to a 12-11-1 record as a starter. That performance helped earn him a two-year, $14MM deal with his hometown Falcons last offseason, where he was expected to provide former third-round pick Desmond Ridder with some competition. Heinicke ultimately got four starts for Atlanta, going 1-3 while completing a career-low 54.4 percent of his passes. The veteran took a pay cut from $5MM to $1.21MM to stick in Atlanta for 2024, but now he’ll be earning that reduced salary in Los Angeles.
The Chargers were only carrying a pair of QBs following final cuts, with Easton Stick lined up to be the QB2 behind Justin Herbert. Stick, a former fifth-round pick, has spent his entire career with the Chargers, and he finally got an extended look while filling in for Herbert in 2023. While the Chargers went 0-4 in his four starts, Stick still managed to complete 63.8 percent of his passes for 1,129 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Heinicke will provide the organization with a bit more starting experience behind Herbert, but it’s uncertain how the depth chart will ultimately shake out.
Justin Herbert Returns To Practice; Chargers Waive QB Max Duggan
Justin Herbert returned to practice Monday, putting to rest any concerns about his availability for Week 1. While the standout Chargers quarterback sustained a plantar fascia injury July 31, he participated fully (via The Athletic’s Daniel Popper) with the Bolts’ first-team offense during practice.
Although that workload did not include 11-on-11 work, Herbert appears in no danger of missing any regular-season time. The Chargers have now made the move to waive Max Duggan, the QB they made last year’s Mr. Irrelevant selection.
The Bolts have Herbert going into his fifth season. Throughout that time, Easton Stick has been part of Los Angeles’ roster. Stick moved from third-stringer to backup in 2023, with Chase Daniel‘s contract expiring and the longtime backup transitioning to a media role, and the North Dakota State QB1 between Carson Wentz and Trey Lance replaced Herbert following his season-ending finger injury last season. Stick re-signed with the Chargers this offseason on a one-year, $2.67MM deal, but Popper notes the team needs to consider shopping for another QB2.
Viewing the fifth-year reserve as having regressed this offseason, Popper points to Stick’s fumbled snap and two interceptions in Rams territory — coming after a pick in the Bolts’ preseason opener — as evidence this situation needs to be reexamined. Stick has also looked shaky in Bolts practices on the whole, though he started both preseason games in front of Duggan and recent addition Luis Perez. A veteran of the AAF, XFL and UFL, Perez remains on L.A.’s 90-man roster following the Duggan cut.
The Chargers re-signed Stick despite Jim Harbaugh having no ties to him, moving on from Duggan — whose TCU team eliminated Harbaugh’s Michigan squad in the 2022 CFP semifinals — weeks into camp. Duggan did not play in the Chargers’ second preseason game, seeing Perez replace Stick. The longtime Bolts backup will start the team’s preseason finale, per Harbaugh.
Los Angeles could certainly look into options following next week’s wave of cuts — teams must pare their rosters from 90 to 53 before 3pm CT on August 27 — or look into a trade. If the Bolts release Stick, they would take on $1.4MM in dead money.
As for Herbert, Popper adds he ditched his walking boot late last week. The Pro Bowl QB did not miss any time due to the rib injury he suffered in Week 2 of the 2022 season, powering the Bolts to the playoffs. Though, it took weeks for the strong-armed signal-caller to return to top form that season. The Chargers having Herbert back at work nearly three weeks before the season obviously represents a good sign, and it will be interesting to view the Bolts’ depth chart behind him once waiver claims come in next week.
In addition to waiving Duggan, the Chargers signed safety Jalyn Phillips and waived wide receiver Leon Johnson. Duggan bounced between the team’s active roster and practice squad last year, being signed to a reserve/futures contract in January.
Bolts’ Justin Herbert Sustains Foot Injury
Justin Herbert‘s development in Jim Harbaugh‘s system will not include on-field work for a bit. The Chargers quarterback has sustained a foot injury that will keep him off the field, though the team announced this is not expected to threaten his regular-season availability.
The fifth-year passer sustained a plantar fascia injury in his right foot, per the Chargers, and at least a two-week period in a walking boot will follow. While this might not place Herbert’s Week 1 status in doubt, the Bolts are certain to be cautious with their centerpiece player in an effort to ensure no reinjury occurs.
[RELATED: Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Chargers]
This will halt Herbert’s work in Harbaugh’s offense and move Easton Stick — Herbert’s injury replacement once he sustained a season-ending finger injury late last year — back to first-team duties. Despite Herbert not missing a rep during the Chargers’ Wednesday practice, he will be parked for a stretch.
Herbert is now in a fourth offense during his five-year career. The Bolts have transitioned from Shane Steichen to Joe Lombardi to Kellen Moore to Greg Roman as play-callers. While he has enjoyed several months to prepare, it is notable the upcoming period will not include much on-field work. It is now likely Herbert will not play in the preseason.
The Pro Bowl passer memorably played through a significant rib injury in 2022, a malady that certainly affected his performance that season. The Chargers still made the playoffs. Expectations are lower ahead of Harbaugh’s first season, as the Bolts stumbled badly in Brandon Staley‘s finale. This included an 0-4 mark in Stick starts.
The Harbaugh-Joe Hortiz regime re-signed Stick this offseason, giving the former North Dakota State standout a one-year deal worth $2.67MM. It was a bit surprising the new Los Angeles power duo did not make a move to improve the team’s backup situation, as Stick was a Tom Telesco-era pickup who spent his first three seasons as a third-stringer.
Stick is indeed in front of Max Duggan on the depth chart and will move into the QB1 spot, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper notes (subscription required). For now, Herbert remains on track to debut on time. But this injury’s potential to linger will be a central Chargers storyline to monitor ahead of the regular season.
Chargers To Bring Back QB Easton Stick
Easton Stick will soon begin work for another Chargers head coach. Brought in during Anthony Lynn‘s stay and retained throughout Brandon Staley‘s run, Stick will have a chance to remain as a Justin Herbert backup under Jim Harbaugh.
The Chargers reached an agreement to keep the North Dakota State alum Friday, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. With an injury forcing Herbert to miss games for the first time, Stick received his first run of regular-season action last season. He will rejoin Herbert and 2023 seventh-rounder Max Duggan as Bolts QBs on the offseason roster.
It is interesting the Chargers will have each of their 2023 QBs back, with a new coaching staff and front office leadership being in place. Stick has been with the team since 2019, beginning his career as a third-stringer during Philip Rivers‘ final Chargers campaign. Stick then resided as Los Angeles’ QB3 behind Herbert and Tyrod Taylor, before Chase Daniel came in as QB2 in 2021. Daniel was not brought back for 2023, moving Stick — North Dakota State’s QB between Carson Wentz and Trey Lance — up on the depth chart. A Herbert development made that promotion relevant.
Herbert’s finger surgery brought in Stick to start the Bolts’ final four games. The team went 0-4 in that span, with the talent gap between the team’s first- and second-stringers rather wide. Stick threw three TD passes to one INT but was on the other end of a 63-21 blowout, the final game of the Staley-Tom Telesco era. All three of Stick’s TD passes came in that Raiders romp, though the Chargers were within one score of their final three opponents.
It would not surprise to see Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz use a later-round pick to bring in competition for the backup job, and Duggan — who was at the controls when TCU downed Harbaugh’s Michigan squad in the 2022 CFP semifinal round — could factor in as well.
Commanders To Sign QB Marcus Mariota
Widely expected to draft a passer with the second overall pick in this year’s draft, the Commanders are adding a veteran to the mix. Quarterback Marcus Mariota is set to join Washington on a one-year deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The pact has a base value of $6MM and can be worth up to $10MM, he adds. 
Mariota’s journeyman status will continue with this pact. Washington will represent the fourth different team in as many years for the former No. 2 pick. After his run as the Titans’ starter came to an end in 2019, he had a two-year stint with the Raiders. That was followed by one-year pacts in Atlanta and Philadelphia, with the Falcons being the only team to provide a starting opportunity during that stretch.
The 30-year-old’s play in Atlanta came to an end under unusual circumstances. Mariota left the team before ultimately undergoing knee surgery. His performance and health status limited him to a one-year accord with the Eagles, although he has landed more money upfront and a higher maximum value this time around. The Oregon alum played in three games last season, attempting 23 passes. Easton Stick – a familiar face for new Eagles OC Kellen Moore – could replace Mariota as the team’s backup, Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan notes.
The Commanders have Sam Howell on the roster, having drafted the North Carolina alum in 2022. He was handed the starting gig ahead of 2023, and for a time the 23-year-old showed flashes of potential. Things took a turn for the worse toward the end of the campaign, though, and a new general manager and head coach are in place compared to the regime which drafted him. Howell has been mentioned in trade talk with the expectation Washington would add a veteran passer before drafting either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels in April.
Having Mariota in place will no doubt lead to increased chatter regarding a deal sending Howell out of the nation’s capital. A number of teams have already made a move on the backup quarterback market, but the latter (who has two more years on his rookie contract) could still be of interest to teams looking for a developmental option. Mariota, meanwhile, will aim to lock down the backup spot in Washington with the potential to see playing time early in 2024.