Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. suffered a rib injury after getting sacked late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 30-23 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens and did not return to play in the extra period. Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson brought Penix down with 27 seconds left in regulation and the score tied, and the Falcons quarterback did not return once the game reached overtime.
Penix stayed down briefly after the hit but walked off the field on his own, according to ESPN. Backup Tua Tagovailoa took one snap in relief before Penix came back in to finish out the drive that sent the game to extra time.
What The Team And Penix Said
Penix returned to finish the drive after the sack, but the Falcons kept him off the field for overtime. Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said the pain in Penix’s rib got worse as he sat on the bench during a long Ravens overtime drive, leaving him unable to get comfortable.
Penix downplayed the severity of the injury afterward. “Knowing me, I’m going to be ready to go next week because I sat out enough in my career, but I’m going to do everything I can in the training room, make sure I get back to where I want to be,” Penix said, per ESPN.
The quarterback also voiced frustration about watching the finish from the sideline. “It’s frustrating, but I think the biggest thing is just I want to be out there, especially in a big moment in a game like that,” Penix said.
Falcons running back Bijan Robinson offered his own hope for his quarterback’s outlook. “I hope he’s great. I hope that it could maybe only be just a bruise or something like that, and it just felt a little like that in the moment, but I just pray he’s all right. I know the whole team does,” Robinson said, per ESPN.
No specific diagnosis, imaging results or return timeline has been released for the rib injury beyond the questionable designation.
Who Replaces Him
Tagovailoa is the Falcons’ backup quarterback. He took over for the overtime period after Penix was held out. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton intercepted Tagovailoa to seal Baltimore’s 30-23 win.
Season Context
Penix just returned in Week 3 from left ACL surgery, his third ACL surgery overall, and had completed 19 of 32 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions against Baltimore before the rib injury.
What’s Next
Atlanta hosts Chicago next Sunday. Penix’s participation in practice this week will determine his status.
For more on Sunday’s result, see the Ravens-Falcons overtime recap.
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