ATLANTA — Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and receiver Drake London both left Sunday’s 30-27 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers with knee injuries and did not return.
Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that London’s injury is not thought to be overly serious. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury and how much time he will miss, if any.
Penix was hit on a third-down pass, which fell incomplete with 5:22 left in the third quarter. He attempted to get back up but fell to the grass again and took off his helmet.
The second-year quarterback was 13-of-16 passing for 175 yards before leaving. Veteran Kirk Cousins replaced him and finished 6-of-14 passing for 48 yards.
After the game, Falcons coach Raheem Morris said there was no update on Penix’s condition or how long he might be out. Morris added there was a possibility Penix could have reentered the game, but he didn’t feel great about doing that.
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Penix remained on the sideline and was walking around after he left the game.
Morris added that there was obviously an adjustment with the offense when Cousins came in; the Falcons scored just six points after Penix left after entering halftime ahead, 21-7.
Morris also intimated there was at least a chance Cousins would be the starter next week against the rival New Orleans Saints.
“You change [the] quarterback, so you got to do what that quarterback does well, so we’ll go find out what Kirk does well this week,” Morris said. “I’m sure he’ll have some input on it and so [offensive coordinator] Zac [Robinson] and those guys will work together depending on what happens with Michael and we’ll be able to figure those things out when we get closer to practice on Wednesday.”
Penix sustained a bone bruise in his left knee against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7 and missed Atlanta’s next game against the Miami Dolphins. Cousins started in that game, a 34-10 loss.
“[Penix is] pouring it out so much for everybody and he did such a great job today that it’s hard when you have these setbacks, but I know he’s going to have treatment and then as a person, obviously we’re just going to check on him and love him up,” Falcons right guard Chris Lindstrom said. “And like I said, I was speaking about it earlier, he’s going to do everything he can to be out there and we love him for it.”
London, meanwhile, was ruled out during overtime with the knee injury. He had seven catches for 119 yards before exiting.
