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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. suffered a partially torn left ACL and will have season-ending surgery, the team announced Wednesday. The procedure will be a full ACL construction, a league source told ESPN. Penix took a hit in the third quarter Sunday against the Carolina Panthers and injured his knee. He was removed from the game and replaced by veteran Kirk Cousins, who will be the Falcons' starting quarterback for the rest of this season. The Falcons (3-7) travel to face the division rival New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Cousins' receiving corps will be short-handed this weekend. Falcons coach Raheem Morris said wide receiver Drake London will be out against the Saints with a PCL injury in his left knee. London injured his knee in the 30-27 overtime loss to the Panthers. It will be the second game London has missed this season. Before coming out of that Carolina game, London had seven catches for 119 yards. It was his third straight game going over 100 yards and his fifth 100-yard game in the past six Falcons contests. His previous career high for 100-yard games was three last season. London is tied for seventh in the NFL in receptions (60), fifth in receiving yards (810) and tied for eighth in receiving touchdowns (6). Morris said he has no timetable for Penix's return, though he said it would be "hard to say no" when asked if Penix would be the team's Week 1 starter in 2026. Morris said he has spoken with Penix and he has been in good spirits. "Obviously, everybody's different ... but it was really positive news from all the doctors that looked at it," Morris said. Penix completed 60.1% of his passes this season for 1,982 yards with nine touchdown passes and three interceptions. He ran for one touchdown. Cousins said his "heart breaks" for Penix. "He's someone who has handled adversity so well through his football journey and, unfortunately, he's having to do it again," Cousins said. "But I'm very confident he has a lot of good football ahead of him. Probably more good football ahead of him than behind him, for sure. And so, he has a lot to look forward to, but unfortunately he's just going to have to be patient with it. But tough deal and we'll be supporting him as he goes through his rehab process." Although the hope is that Penix will be back next season, Morris said the Falcons' offseason strategy when it comes to quarterbacks will have to change. Cousins seems likely to be a post-June 1 release because the Falcons would be able to save $35 million on the salary cap despite another $35 million in dead cap split between 2026 and 2027, according to Spotrac. "You definitely got to go and make some different plans," Morris said. "We talk about the offseason, but we'll talk about that and address that when we get there. Right now, we got to prepare for New Orleans Saints and that's what we'll do, but that has always got to be something that's on your mind regardless and definitely puts it on your mind a little bit more with this happening." The Falcons drafted Penix at No. 8 in the 2024 draft, despite having just signed Cousins to a $100 million guaranteed contract weeks earlier. Atlanta was betting on Cousins being its quarterback of the present and Penix being its quarterback of the future. Penix, 25, tore his right ACL twice in college. This is Penix's fifth season-ending injury in eight seasons between college and the NFL. "He has dealt with it, but what we know of Mike and all the stuff that we've done from our research, from all the injuries he has come back stronger," Morris said. "We feel really confident that this will be the same way. I have no doubt that Mike's going to attack this rehab and attack all things that can get done to be ready for his team and ready to go as soon as possible." With Penix's injury, the Falcons have signed quarterback Easton Stick to the active roster from the practice squad and signed quarterback Kyle Trask to the practice squad. Stick will be Cousins' backup. Penix suffered a bone bruise on his left knee in Week 6 and missed the team's Week 7 game against the Miami Dolphins. Cousins started that game, a 34-10 defeat. Cousins is completing 61.5% of his passes for 250 yards without a touchdown or interception. "I'm grateful to have the opportunity and that's what it is: a great opportunity and you do all you can to take advantage of it," Cousins said.
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