Michael Penix Jr.
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Former Falcons offensive lineman Todd McClure doesn't believe that Michael Penix Jr. is the team's answer at quarterback
It’s safe to say that, 10 games into the 2025 campaign, things haven’t gone according to plan for the Atlanta Falcons. Heading into Week 12, the team sports a lowly 3-7 record, and they will now be without second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for the rest of the season after he suffered a partially torn ACL in Week 11.
With Penix undergoing surgery, Atlanta will have to turn to Kirk Cousins for the rest of the season. In his first season as the de facto starter, Penix was inconsistent, and many folks have questions about his viability as the team’s quarterback of the future. One person who is among that group is longtime Falcons’ offensive lineman Todd McClure, who recently admitted some hard truths when discussing Penix’s future with Atlanta.
Todd McClure Doesn’t Know if Michael Penix Jr. is the Answer at Quarterback
McClure spent all 13 years of his career in the NFL starting at center for the Falcons, so he knows what it takes for a quarterback to be successful in this league. Having worked with stars like Michael Vick and Matt Ryan, McClure saw quite a bit during his playing days, and he’s not sure he’s seen many positive signs from Penix in the early going.
In nine games this season, Penix was solid, but he ultimately ended up leading his team to just three wins. Penix threw for 1,982 yards and nine touchdowns, but the ceiling on offense felt fairly limited with him leading the way. The second-year quarterback struggled with his accuracy (60.1% completion percentage), did not move around in the pocket well, and had nearly as many turnovers (seven) as he did passing touchdowns.
It’s still early in his career, but Penix will already be 26 next year, despite it being only his third year in the league. The Falcons could quickly be forced to make a decision on whether or not Penix is their guy, and if you ask McClure, he isn’t sure the former Washington Huskies star has what it takes to become the team’s franchise quarterback.
“After watching his short body of work so far in the NFL, I do question a little bit whether he can be a franchise quarterback,” McClure said in an interview with Betway. “His arm is extremely strong, but I’m unsure about his pocket presence. This is where he has a hard time … If you ask me right now, and I hate to say it, but I don’t think he’s the long-term guy for the Falcons. I hope he proves me wrong.”
What Should the Falcons Do with Michael Penix Jr.?
Michael Penix
GettyMichael Penix Jr. of the Atlanta Falcons
It may seem premature to discuss Penix’s future with the Falcons, but through his 14 NFL games, he’s done little to prove that he is on the way to becoming a reliable starter for Atlanta. Soon enough, the team will have to make a decision on the fifth-year option in his rookie contract, and if he struggles again in 2026, that could force the front office to move on from him.
The upcoming season has suddenly become extremely important for Penix. Given how much Atlanta has invested in him, though, the franchise could feel obligated to give him a longer leash when it comes to figuring out if he is the team’s quarterback of the future. Regardless, it’s safe to say things did not pan out as the Falcons would have hoped with Penix this season, and it will be interesting to see what happens between these two sides moving forward.