Michael Penix Jr. has dealt with chronic knee issues throughout his football career, but things might be looking up for the Atlanta Falcons quarterback.
Penix said his doctor gave him an extremely positive review of his knee before training camp.
"I have an amazing ACL," Penix told reporters Wednesday. "I went and saw the doctor before camp started, and he was like, 'This is an amazing ACL. You should never have any more knee problems for the rest of your career.' That's word for word what he told me."
Penix tore the ACL in his right knee twice in college - in 2018 and 2020. He suffered a partially torn ACL in his left knee last season with the Falcons and has yet to be fully cleared at training camp.
He said there are mental hurdles that need to be cleared regarding his past knee problems.
"Just having that confidence in it and not worrying about it. Injuries happen in football," Penix added. "But at the same time, you don't want it to happen again. So I gotta get it out of my mind, 'What if it happens again?' I just gotta go out there and just play."
Penix, the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, posted an 88.5 passer rating with nine touchdowns and three interceptions in nine starts last season before the injury. The Falcons added Tua Tagovailoa as a free agent in the offseason, and the former Miami Dolphins signal caller is reportedly expected to emerge as Atlanta's Week 1 starting quarterback.
Tagovailoa will start the team's preseason opener Friday.
