Drake London welcomes back Penix with 9-194 line

London also had a 25-yard grab called back by penalty. As expected, the Falcons simply rolled out a dead-on-arrival offense with Cooper Rush under center. Rush turned the ball over three times before being benched in the third quarter. Things didn’t get any better with Jack Strand under center. He threw an immediate pick-six and the Falcons promptly pulled the bulk of their starters from the game. With Michael Penix expected to play next week, London should return to the WR2 ranks next time we see him. If Penix isn’t available once again, London will barely register as a WR3.

Fowler said Penix, still recovering from his 2025 ACL injury, “wants to be fully confident before stepping onto the field. And my understanding is the Falcons are leaving the comfort level part of his recovery up to him.” “Penix is coming off his third ACL reconstruction, which is a lot of ACL reconstructions,” ESPN’s Dan Graziano added. “I believe it takes a lot of mental work to convince yourself it’s OK to go back out there and play. If Penix needs more time, I’m sure the Falcons will give it to him, though I believe we will see him on the field at some point this season.” That would leave Tua Tagovailoa as the team’s presumed starter if Tua can play through the oblique strain that sidelined him in Week 1 against the Steelers. If Tua can’t go, the Falcons could be forced to start Cooper Rush for another game or two. Rush, who had the lowest drop back EPA of any QB in Week 1, makes Drake London and Kyle Pitts iffy starts in 12-team fantasy formats.

London also added six yards on one rush as the Falcons looked to do anything to get the ball in the hands of their best receiver. The 25-year-old was an absolute non-factor in this one, largely because Cooper Rush was highly inefficient and ineffective under center. The role is not in question though. London played 60 of the team’s 61 snaps and ran a route on 28 of their 29 dropbacks. However, he will be tough to trust with Cooper Rush (and probably even Tua Tagovailoa) under center. London has a much better matchup next week against the Panthers, but there is some fear that he’s more of a WR2 option until Michael Penix (knee) returns.

Raimondi believes Dotson’s ability to stretch the field from the perimeter adds an element to the Falcons’ offense that they lacked in recent seasons. Although WR Drake London has been regularly deployed as a part-time slot weapon, Dotson’s presence helps reinforce London’s slot opportunities this season. Great news for all involved.

London can make up to $150 million on the new contract, which includes $100 million guaranteed. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that the deal “makes London the third-highest-paid receiver in the league with the highest average per year in Falcons franchise history.” Over the course of his four-year career, London has caught 309-of-473 targets for 3,961 yards and 22 touchdowns. A knee injury sidelined him in Weeks 12-15 last year, yet he still led the team with seven receiving touchdowns. London, 24, has not yet been named to a Pro Bowl, nor has he earned All-Pro honors, but it is reasonable to expect him to bring home a few accolades in the coming seasons. London is a WR1 for 2026.

London said the team remains focused on free agency and adds that an extension for London, along with RB Bijan Robinson, may not receive more focus until after the draft. London is in the final year of his rookie contract and caught 68 passes for 919 yards and seven touchdowns last season. The former No. 8 overall pick has one 1,000-yard season on his resumé and has dealt with a mixed bag at quarterback since entering the league in 2022. This is the second time this offseason that Cunningham has mentioned extending London, so we would expect a deal to get done sooner than later.

Kendall notes that new GM Ian Cunningham proactively gave an extension to DJ Moore in Chicago, and writes that “getting the deals done sooner rather than later should be the team’s approach.” London enters 2026 on his fifth-year option and is scheduled to make $16.8 million. An extension would obviously make plenty of sense after London established himself as one of the best receivers in the NFL over the past two seasons despite inconsistent quarterback play. Kendall believes London “likely sees himself” as a $30 million a year player.

London finishes his injury-abbreviated season just 81 yards shy of 1,000 despite missing five games. His 76.6 yards per game go down as a new career high despite the Falcons having to switch quarterbacks from Michael Penix Jr. to Kirk Cousins mid-season. London also dealt with a revived Kyle Pitts, but he simply did what an alpha No. 1 wideout does. Now headed into the final year of his rookie contract, London will spend the offseason negotiating an extension. The Falcons also have Pitts to worry about, but London could end up the priority even though he’s not a free agent like Pitts. For 2026, London will remain a safe WR1 with top-five upside depending on how things shake out at quarterback in Atlanta.

As are Kyle Pitts (knee) and Darnell Mooney (knee). The Falcons are putting their best foot forward with today’s game affecting the outcome for the NFC South. Inactive for the Birds are LB Ronnie Harrison, DL Brandon Dorlus, P Trenton Gill, OL Michael Jerrell, WR Casey Washington and WR Malik Heath.

He is, per Raheem Morris, expected to play on Sunday. Playing through a PCL sprain that is clearly limiting him, London is probably more of a WR2 this week with the hopes that the volume works out and the Saints’ leaky pass defense gets him some yardage.