Oct 19, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) runs with the ball through the second quarter in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Kyle Terada-Imagn Photographs The curler coaster that has been the 2025 Atlanta Falcons season took one other sharp flip Sunday evening and the downward pattern continued into Monday.
After Atlanta (3-3) beat reigning convention finalists in consecutive weeks within the Washington Commanders and Buffalo Payments, a surprisingly torpid offensive efficiency doomed the Falcons in a 20-10 highway loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Extra surprises got here Monday as head coach Raheem Morris revealed to reporters that beginning quarterback Michael Penix Jr. suffered a bone bruise in his foot/ankle within the loss.
“Penix shall be day-to-day,” Morris mentioned. “He is as powerful because it will get. Final evening, we had been him when he acquired tousled. He gave us a thumbs up. (Backup quarterback) Kirk (Cousins) was able to go, however he gave us each a thumbs up and was capable of keep within the recreation. … There’s positively some limitations.”
Even earlier than Penix sustained the harm, Atlanta’s offense was severely restricted. The Falcons discovered the top zone simply as soon as on a display go Bijan Robinson changed into a 10-yard landing that lower the deficit to a few within the third quarter.
With an opportunity to take the lead halfway by the fourth, Morris elected to take Robinson off the sphere on fourth-and-1 from the 49ers’ 35-yard line. Penix then threw incomplete to Drake London. The San Francisco landing on the following drive iced the sport.
Morris needed to reply why Robinson — who the Atlanta head coach has repeatedly labeled the league’s finest participant — wasn’t on the sphere for the essential fourth down.
“We have got a number of actually good gamers on our soccer workforce. We imagine in a number of gamers on our soccer workforce. Trying again at it proper now, clearly you need Bijan on the sphere on a regular basis,” Morris mentioned. “You possibly can simply second-guess that one.”
Penix threw for 241 yards and a landing, however he accomplished simply 21 of 38 passes and was flagged for an important intentional grounding that prevented Atlanta from scoring earlier than halftime.
Morris likes the 25-year-old’s present path however is aware of they will want extra from him if he is capable of swimsuit up in opposition to Miami on Sunday.
“I like the place his improvement is, No. 1,” Morris mentioned of Penix. “However sure, there’s at all times going to be instances and locations, particularly for a younger quarterback, if you need him to make use of his footwork, use his correct footwork, do all of the issues that you simply wish to do. And people are at all times the stuff you’re doing to constantly combat with a man with as a lot arm expertise as Mike.”
If Penix is unable to go in opposition to the Dolphins, the Falcons will begin Cousins, who began the primary 14 video games final season after signing a four-year, $180 million contract with Atlanta earlier than he was benched in favor of Penix.
Except for Penix’s harm, Atlanta was dealt a large blow on the defensive facet of the ball, as linebacker Divine Deablo exited within the second quarter with a fractured forearm.
“I do know (Deablo) goes to overlook a while,” Morris mentioned. “We stay up for getting him again sooner or later this 12 months.”
Morris additionally touched on the standing of vast receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III, who missed the final two video games as a wholesome scratch.
“Clearly going by that course of proper now, speaking with (McCloud),” Morris mentioned. “However that is a distraction I am coping with. Nobody else.”
–Discipline Degree Media
