Atlanta Falcons president of football Matt Ryan wouldn't endorse Michael Penix Jr. as the team's starting quarterback this offseason.
At Tuesday's introductory press conference for new general manager Ian Cunningham, Ryan was asked whether Penix would be the starter when he returned from injury.
"Neither of us are the head coach of the football team, so we can't answer your question on that," Ryan said, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi.
Ryan added: "Quarterback's obviously very important, and we're excited about Mike and what he's doing with his rehab. I've been up at the facility the last three weeks, and Michael's been in there attacking that, and he's in a good space right now, so we're excited about where he is at. But certainly, a lot of discussions for us about the entire roster."
Penix tore his left ACL in a Nov. 16 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The 25-year-old underwent surgery and is expected to be sidelined for 9-12 months.
Atlanta shocked many by selecting Penix in the 2024 NFL Draft. The team picked the Washington product in the first round weeks after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180-million contract as a free agent in March 2024.
The Falcons ushered in a new regime after going 8-9 in 2025 and missing out on the postseason for the eighth straight year. General manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris were fired in January. Atlanta then created Ryan's role, hired Kevin Stefanski as head coach, and installed Cunningham as GM.
Owner Arthur Blank backed Penix's potential.
"I do think Michael is a franchise quarterback," Blank said in January, according to team reporter Tori McElhaney.
Penix passed for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions and completed 60% of his passes as the Falcons' starter in 2025. The NFC South club owned a 3-6 record in his starts.
"I just see a young player that will continue to develop and continue to get better," Stefanski said last week, per Raimondi.
The Falcons are expected to move on from Cousins this offseason in a bid to create space under the salary cap. The two sides agreed to a restructured deal that would allow the veteran signal-caller to find a new opportunity this offseason.
