Falcons QB Penix to make season debut Thursday vs. Packers

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will make his season debut this Thursday night when he starts against the Green Bay Packers, the team announced Monday.

Penix sat out the Falcons' first two games as he was still working his way back from left ACL surgery in November. Penix was cleared by doctors for full practices in late August but had said he was not quite ready yet for live game action.

Cooper Rush started the Falcons' first two games and committed five turnovers, including an NFL-high four interceptions. On Sunday, in the Falcons' home-opening 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers, Rush was 10-of-17 passing for 86 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions, in addition to a lost fumble on the first series.

Rookie Jack Strand saw his first action Sunday and threw a pick-six on his first pass attempt. He finished 8-of-15 for 59 yards with no touchdowns and the interception. He was the first quarterback to throw a pick-six in his first career pass attempt since Sam Darnold in 2018 -- and the first Falcons quarterback to do it since Brett Favre in 1991.

Tua Tagovailoa, meanwhile, was given the starting job out of training camp but has been sidelined because of an oblique injury suffered in practice in Week 1.