Falcons make desperately-needed Michael Penix Jr. announcement for Week 3

The Atlanta Falcons might've just had one of the more agonizing two-week stretches in their regular-season history in Weeks 1 and 2 of the 2026 season.

Cooper Rush, the team's No. 3 quarterback, had to start both games. He struggled in both, and even Jack Strand, the fun young undrafted rookie, didn't play well when he got a chance to play. Fortunately for Falcons fans, they've caught a break in Week 3.

As the Falcons announced on Twitter/x on Monday afternoon, Michael Penix Jr. has been named the Week 3 starting quarterback when the Falcons face the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football.

Falcons name Michael Penix Jr. starting QB for Week 3

"Michael Penix Jr. has been named starting quarterback for Thursday's game," the Falcons announced on social media.

This is some massive news for the Falcons, as they now finally get their preferred quarterback back on the field beginning in Week 3 against a Packers team that's 1-1.

Getting Penix back is a huge sigh of relief for the Falcons, as trotting out Rush or Strand in Week 3 would've likely been a brutal primetime loss waiting to happen.

While Penix could struggle, especially in his first game back, he doesn't have a high bar to clear when it comes to the QB production from the Falcons this season.

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All Penix needs to do is get the Falcons into the Red Zone, and he'll have done something the quarterbacks in Week 1 and Week 2 weren't able to do for Atlanta.

The Packers won't be an easy matchup, but Green Bay has struggled to move the ball a bit this season, and easily could've lost to the New York Jets in Week 2.

For all the doom and gloom surrounding the Falcons, their 0-2 record is just one win back from the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints. Now that Penix is back, a playoff spot is still within grasp for the Falcons this season.

The Falcons' announcement Monday that Penix is the Week 3 starting quarterback was a desperately needed announcement after a brutal two weeks.

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