Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been fully cleared to start this weekend against the Chicago Bears, carrying no injury designation into the matchup after a scare over rib discomfort last week.
Penix made his 2026 debut in Week 3, helping the Falcons notch their first win of the season. He followed that with a strong Week 4 performance, throwing for 223 yards as Bijan Robinson rushed for 145 in a lopsided victory over the New Orleans Saints. Together, the two games gave Atlanta a league-high 80 points combined.
The run hit a snag in Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens, when a late sack briefly forced Penix out of the game. He returned for one more play but sat out overtime due to rib pain, raising concerns about another setback for a quarterback whose injury history dates back to his college days, including an ACL tear and surgery last November.
An MRI earlier this week eased those worries. Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Wednesday that Penix was on track to start barring any setback, and by Friday the quarterback had no injury designation at all. Penix has practiced all week, and Stefanski said he does not expect Penix to need extra rib protection or any changes to the game plan.
So far this season, Penix has thrown for 719 yards and three touchdowns.
Williams’ Status Remains in Question
Chicago’s situation is far less settled. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury and has not yet been cleared to play Sunday in Atlanta. Head coach Ben Johnson said Williams was listed as a full participant on Wednesday’s injury report, and he remained a full participant for a second straight day on Thursday.
Williams himself said no decision on his availability had been made.
“Before you start asking, do not know if I’m playing yet,” Williams told reporters. “Have to go through a bunch of medical protocols, obviously have to get out there and practice, do the stress testing that you do when you’re trying to come back from injury or serious injury.”
Williams also pushed back on how his injury had been described publicly, saying the reporting on it had been inaccurate.
“There’s nothing that has come out that has been right about what it is and what it has been,” Williams said, adding that he suffered a “pretty serious” hamstring tear.
