When Michael Penix Jr. tore his ACL last November, the Atlanta Falcons were confident that he would be good to go for Week 1. The return timeline is around 9-12 months, and August would be nine months later, so on paper, he was in line to get enough practice reps to feel good about starting him.
But as we know, it wasn't very simple. Since it was the third ACL tear of Penix's young career, the Falcons urged him to proceed with caution. They played it safe with him all summer to the point that it took him an additional four weeks to be cleared for full contact--but we now know why it took so long.
While addressing the media yesterday, Penix revealed that he underwent another procedure that extended his recovery time, but was intended to make his knee repair more stable. So if anything, his longer return timeline is a good thing--since the delayed recovery could have long-term benefits.
Michael Penix Jr. finally explained why his ACL recovery took so long
The 26-year-old has a history of lower leg issues, as he tore his ACL in two different college seasons. But the last time one ended his season (before last year) was five years prior. Even still, the "injury prone" label follows you like a plague in this league, so at least Penix is trying to shed that reputation.
I'm no medical expert, but I'm not sure why he waited until the third surgery to go through this new procedure, unless it wasn't as frequent over a half-decade ago. That seems to be a little odd, nut nevertheless, it's promising that he won't end up like the NFL's modern equivalent of The Terminator.
What we have to remember is that the former top-10 pick had to undergo full reconstructive surgery to repair an ACL he already tore, so if it helps his knee feel more stable, no complaints. Penix likely got a graft (where another piece of body tissue is used to replace the torn ligament), and which would take his body more time to get used to.
Penix Jr. has been throwing since mid-March and working in 7-on-7s since the start of OTAs--it's not like he hasn't done anything all summer. He's done his fair share of throwing, and his doctor signed off on being cleared for full contact knowing full well there was another procedure he had to account for.
Don't call me Dr. Robby or anything, but Michael Penix Jr. is making it sound like the extra procedure will be a blessing in disguise for him in the long run--and now that he's back in the running to be the Falcons' Week 1 starting quarterback, any positive update is music to our ears.
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