Michael Penix will make his first start for the Falcons since last November when the team faces the Packers on Thursday night, and the quarterback shared his excitement about that return during a press conference on Tuesday.
Penix had said in recent weeks that he felt close to get back into the lineup, but not to where he needed to be to feel confident in the game. He said that changed at the end of last week as the lingering pain went away and he was convinced it was time to get back on the pitch after “pushing it to the limit” in training and finding the knee “responding well”.
Penix said the timing of his return had nothing to do with the extended Week 4 layoff or how poorly the first two weeks have gone for the team.
“Being healthy is what I intended. I was never a week-to-week thing,” Penix said at a press conference. “It was to be healthy. Every time I felt like I could go out there, like I said, walk away from all that pain and get stronger and stronger every day, that’s what it always did. Once I felt healthy, I felt like I was good to go. . . . I will never sit out if I am healthy. I knew I wasn’t where I needed to be the first two weeks and now I feel like I’m where I want to be, so that’s why you’re going to see me this week.”
Penix called it “very exciting when you make the final decision” and, given the way the offense has gone through two games, he likely isn’t the only Falcons player excited about the change of plans this week.
