Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said he’ll have a better idea Wednesday of whether quarterback Michael Penix will be able to play Sunday against the Bears.
Penix hurt his ribs during the “Sunday Night Football” overtime loss to the Ravens. Monday, Stefanski wouldn’t say whether imaging showed a break or not.
Penix was injured when he was sacked by Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson on the fourth-to-last play of regulation Sunday. He came in for one more play, throwing an incompletion on the penultimate play of the fourth quarter. Tua Tagovailoa played overtime for the Falcons and, trailing by seven, threw an interception to end the game. He went 2-for-3 for 34 yards in the game, his first of the season.
Penix said afterward he likely would have been able to play in overtime had the Falcons started with the ball. His pain grew worse as the Ravens drove down the field to start the extra frame.
Penix, who was drafted in the first round the same year as Caleb Williams, returned in Week 3 from the third ACL surgery of his football career. He gave the Falcons a boost, beating the Packers and Saints by 21 points apiece before losing Sunday. Cooper Rush started the Falcons’ first two games, both losses, while Jack Strand appeared in relief during Game 2.
The Bears have their own quarterback questions that Stefanski said he’ll monitor. Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum could start.
“We’ll see as the week goes on who’s practicing, who you can anticipate seeing … “ he said of the Bears. “But the truth is you have to prepare for an entire roster.”
