TRENDING Week 5 Winners and Losers Brewers beat Dodgers in Game 1 Ravens top Falcons in OT Marvin Harrison Jr. trade grades Booms & Busts Story by Jason Owens Staff writer Mon, October 12, 2026 at 4:34 AM UTC · 3 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. took a big hit toward the end of regulation and wasn't able to play in overtime of Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens due to a rib injury.
He was replaced by backup Tua Tagovailoa, whose second pass as an Atlanta Falcon sealed Baltimore's 30-23 win in overtime . Tagovailoa targeted Drake London on a downfield pass, but instead found Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton to end the game.
Penix took the hit in the final seconds of regulation. He immediately clutched his torso as he laid on his back following the hit.
Penix started to get up from the hit that forced a fumble, but couldn't get to his feet. He laid back down on the field before ultimately leaving for the sideline following attention from trainers.
Atlanta recovered the fumble, and Tagovailoa took Penix's place for one play. Penix returned to throw a pass on Atlanta's final offensive play of regulation before a punt ran out the clock and sent the game to overtime tied at 23. It initially appeared as if Penix would be ready to play in overtime.
But as Baltimore milked clock on the first possession of regulation, medical staff continued to speak to speak with Penix on the sideline.
And when the Falcons got the ball with with 2:57 left in overtime following a Ravens touchdown on a Tyler Huntley sneak, Tagovailoa took over at quarterback on the ensuing Atlanta possession. Penix was officially diagnosed with a rib injury.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. walks off the field after a NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Tagovailoa's overtime stint lasted exactly two snaps as he threw the interception on Atlanta's second overtime play from scrimmage, and what started as a good night for the Falcons ended in disappointing fashion on two fronts:
The Falcons lost a game they'd led since a first-quarter touchdown until Baltimore's late score to tie it in the final minute of the fourth quarter. And the status of Penix moving forward was not clear.
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters postgame that Penix would undergo imaging to determine the severity of the injury.
Per Falcons team reporter Tori McElhaney, Penix said after the game that he initially thought that he'd be able to take the field in overtime if the Falcons had the ball first, but that pain set in the longer he sat.
"I hated it," Penix said . "I hated that I couldn't get back in that game."
He doesn't expect the injury to sideline him long-term .
Penix, whose career has been repeatedly derailed by multiple ACL tears, was playing in his third game this season after missing Atlanta's first two while recovering from his latest ACL injury sustained last season.
Penix helped spark a dormant Falcons offense and led Atlanta to wins over the Packers and Saints in Weeks 3 and 4. Before leaving Sunday's game, Penix had completed 19 of 32 passes for 240 yards with 1 touchdown and no turnovers.
The Falcons are certainly hoping he can return sooner than later with upcoming games against the Bears, 49ers, Buccaneers, Bengals and Chiefs before a Week 11 bye.
Source: Sports
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