A report on Saturday indicated that Falcons quarterback Michael Penix would miss Sunday’s game against the Dolphins because of a knee injury and the Falcons made it official 90 minutes ahead of kickoff in Atlanta.
Penix is inactive for the game and Kirk Cousins will make the start for the Falcons. It will be Cousins’ first start since he was benched in favor of Penix after Week 15 of the 2024 season. Easton Stick is active as the No. 2 quarterback.
The Falcons are also going to be without wide receiver Drake London. London had no injury designation on Friday, but was downgraded to questionable with a hip injury on Saturday.
Dolphins at Falcons
Dolphins: QB Quinn Ewers, DB Elijah Campbell, CB Juju Brents, S Jordan Colbert, WR Tahj Washington, DT Zeek Biggers, TE Julian Hill
Falcons: QB Michael Penix, WR Drake London, EDGE Jalon Walker, CB Billy Bowman, DT Zach Harrison, OL Michael Jerrell, DL LaCale London
Bears at Ravens
Bears: TE Cole Kmet, CB Tyrique Stevenson, RB Roschon Johnson, QB Case Keenum, DT Chris Williams, LB Ruben Hyppolite
Ravens: QB Lamar Jackson, WR Devontez Walker, T Carson Vinson, OL Emery Jones, DT Aeneas Peebles, CB Jaire Alexander, S Sanoussi Kane
Bills at Panthers
Bills: WR Joshua Palmer, CB Brandon Codrington, LB Matt Milano, OL Chase Lundt, DT DaQuan Jones, DE Landon Jackson
Panthers: QB Bryce Young, WR Hunter Renfrow, RB DeeJay Dallas, OL Nick Samac, TE James Mitchell, DT Cam Jackson, DT Jaden Crumedy
Jets at Bengals
Jets: QB Tyrod Taylor, WR Garrett Wilson, KR Kene Nwangwu, TE Stone Smartt, DL Jay Tufele, LB Kobe King, CB Sauce Gardner
Bengals: CB Marco Wilson, OL Matt Lee, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Cam Grandy, DT McKinnley Jackson, DE Cam Sample
49ers at Texans
49ers: QB Brock Purdy, RB Jordan James, WR Ricky Pearsall, C Jake Brendel, DE Bryce Huff, DE Yetur Gross-Matos, DT CJ West
Texans: WR Nico Collins, T Trent Brown, WR Christian Kirk, QB Graham Mertz, DL Darrell Taylor, OL Jarrett Kingston
Browns at Patriots
Browns: QB Shedeur Sanders, CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse, S Damontae Kazee, RB Raheim Sanders, G Zak Zinter, T Cornelius Lucas, DT Adin Huntington
Patriots: WR Efton Chism, QB Tommy DeVito, S Kyle Dugger, DL Eric Gregory, LB Caleb Murphy, OL Caedan Wallace, DL Keion White
Giants at Eagles
Giants: S Jevon Holland, WR Jalin Hyatt, CB Paulson Adebo, T James Hudson, DL Chauncey Golston, G Evan Neal, QB Jameis Winston
Eagles: EDGE Azeez Ojulari, CB Adoree’ Jackson, C Cam Jurgens, WR A.J. Brown, QB Sam Howell
The Dolphins made a significant addition to their injury report on Sunday morning, but it is not expected to change their starting lineup for their game against the Falcons.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was added to the report with an illness. The Dolphins did not give him an injury designation for the game, so he is still in line to start for the 1-6 club in Atlanta.
The Dolphins also have Quinn Ewers and Zach Wilson at quarterback. Wilson was the backup for the first six weeks of the season, but Ewers took that role in Week 7 and played late in Miami’s blowout loss to the Browns. Head coach Mike McDaniel said during the week that the two players would continue to compete for the No. 2 job.
While Tagovailoa is expected to play, the Falcons are set to make a quarterback change. Kirk Cousins is expected to start because of Michael Penix’s knee injury.
The Falcons changed wide receiver Drake London’s game status to questionable on Saturday. He was a limited participant in Friday’s practice with a hip injury and did not receive a game designation.
London has 38 catches for 469 yards and two touchdowns.
The Falcons also placed inside linebacker Divine Deablo on injured reserve with a fractured left forearm.
In six games, he had a half sack, a fumble recovery, four pass breakups and 24 tackles.
The Falcons also activated safety Jordan Fuller from injured reserve. He was designated to return on Oct. 16 after being placed on injured reserve on Sept. 13 with a knee injury.
Although Fuller did not play in Week 7, he has been a full participant in practice since his 21-day window opened.
He played only one defensive snap and 16 on special teams snaps in the Falcons’ Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers.
The Falcons also signed inside linebacker Ronnie Harrison to the active roster and elevated wide receiver Dylan Drummond and quarterback Easton Stick from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
Harrison last played in Week 18 of the 2024 season for the Colts. He signed with the Falcons in the offseason and has spent the season on the team’s practice squad. Harrison has seven years of playing experience across three teams, making 48 starts with 84 appearances in his career.
Stick will backup Kirk Cousins, who will start in place of the injured Michael Penix.
The Falcons are set to turn to backup quarterback Kirk Cousins on Sunday as starter Michael Penix Jr. deals with a knee injury.
Although Penix is officially listed as questionable, Cousins is “highly likely” to be the Falcons’ starting quarterback Sunday against the Dolphins, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Penix was limited in practice this week and Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Cousins took a lot of reps with the first-string offense and will be good to go if he’s called upon.
“I’m really confident in our backup,” Morris said Friday of Cousins. “We’re going to give [Penix] every opportunity we can give him. The kid is tough. He’s a guy. He’s a stud.”
Last year, the Falcons made the surprising decision both to sign Cousins to a lucrative contract in free agency, and to select Penix in the first round of the draft. Cousins ended up starting 14 games and Penix started three in 2024.
In 2025, the Falcons have made clear that Penix is their starter, if he’s healthy. But on Sunday, it looks like Penix won’t be healthy enough to go, and Cousins will return to the starting lineup.
Falcons quarterback Michael Penix said earlier this week that he plans to play against the Dolphins in Sunday’s home game, but the team is going to wait to make a final determination of his status.
Penix has been listed as questionable to play due to the ankle injury that he suffered against the Seahawks in Monday night’s loss. Penix was limited in practice this week.
Kirk Cousins will be in line to start if Penix doesn’t get the green light to play.
Running back Tyler Allegeier (hip, knee), safety Jordan Fuller (knee), and defensive lineman Zach Harrison (knee) are also listed as questionable for Sunday. Linebacker Divine Deablo (forearm), edge rusher Jalon Walker (groin), cornerback Billy Bowman (hamstring), and offensive lineman Storm Norton (foot) have been ruled out.
