Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was cleared to play against the Chicago Bears after a rib injury briefly sidelined him during Atlanta’s Week 6 game against the Baltimore Ravens. As of Friday, he had no injury designation and was cleared to start, according to the supplied report.
Penix was hurt on a late-game sack against Baltimore. He returned for one play but did not take part in overtime because of rib discomfort. Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Penix was on track to start Sunday, subject to there being no setback. Penix practiced throughout the week, and Stefanski said he did not expect the quarterback to need extra rib protection or a change to Atlanta’s game plan.
The report describes Penix’s 2026 season as beginning in Week 3. He helped Atlanta secure its first win of the season, then threw for 223 yards as the Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints. Running back Bijan Robinson had 145 rushing yards in that game. Atlanta scored 80 combined points in Weeks 3 and 4, a league high, according to the source. Penix has recorded 719 passing yards and three touchdowns this season.
Penix also has a history of injuries dating to his college career. The source says he suffered an ACL injury last November and underwent surgery.
The situation was less settled for Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams, who had missed the Bears’ previous three games with a hamstring injury. Bears coach Ben Johnson said Wednesday that Williams would be listed as a full participant on the team’s latest injury report. Williams was listed as a full participant for a second consecutive day Thursday, but said that did not mean a decision had been made about his availability for the game against Atlanta.
Williams told reporters that he still had to complete medical protocols, practice and undergo stress testing before he could return. He also objected to previous accounts of his injury, saying reports had been inaccurate and describing the hamstring tear as “pretty serious.” The supplied material does not state whether Williams ultimately played.
The teams’ quarterbacks therefore entered the weekend with different injury updates: Atlanta had cleared Penix, while Williams’ participation in practice had not resolved the question of whether he would be available.
