Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. suffered a rib injury late in Sunday's Week 5 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens and is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday.
Penix took a hard hit near the end of regulation but returned to finish the quarter. However, he did not return for overtime, with Tua Tagovailoa taking over at quarterback when Atlanta regained possession. Penix was seen on the sideline with a towel over his head.
"Knowing me, I'm going to be ready to go next week because I sat out enough in my career, but I'm going to do everything I can in the training room, make sure I get back to where I want to be," Penix said.
Pro Football Doc Injury Analysis
According to Pro Football Doc, Dr. David Chao, Penix appears to have suffered a rib cage muscle injury rather than a rib fracture or cartilage injury.
Chao believes the biggest issue was Penix cooling down on the sideline during overtime, allowing the injured muscles to tighten and become stiff. Swelling and muscle spasms can make it difficult for a quarterback to rotate his torso and throw effectively.
Chao expects Monday's imaging to come back negative for structural damage, which would be encouraging for Penix's recovery.
While the injury can be painful and limit movement, Chao's assessment suggests the primary concern is muscle stiffness and discomfort rather than damage to the ribs or cartilage.
Penix returned in Week 3 after undergoing surgery on his left ACL, his third ACL surgery. He previously tore his right ACL twice during his college career.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Penix is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the rib injury.
His availability for Week 6 will depend on the results of the imaging and how he progresses throughout the week.
