Penix Cleared to Play; Williams' Status Uncertain for Bears-Falcons Matchup

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been cleared to play in Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears, having suffered a rib injury scare in the previous week. Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed on Friday that Penix has no injury designation and participated fully in practice throughout the week.

“He’s on track to start Sunday, barring a setback,” Stefanski said earlier in the week regarding Penix’s status. He added that he does not anticipate the need for extra protection for Penix’s ribs or any adjustments to the team’s game plan for the matchup.

Penix made his 2026 debut in Week 3, leading the Falcons to their first win of the season. He followed that with another victory in Week 4, throwing for 223 yards and contributing to a strong offensive performance. However, a sack late in Atlanta’s Week 6 game against the Baltimore Ravens briefly took Penix out of the game. While he returned one play later, he did not play in overtime due to rib discomfort. Despite this, an MRI earlier in the week did not reveal a significant issue, and he has now been cleared to start.

So far this season, Penix has thrown for 719 yards and three touchdowns. His injury history includes an ACL tear last November, requiring surgery.

Meanwhile, the status of Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams for Sunday's game remains uncertain. Williams has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury. While he was listed as a full participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, his availability for the game has not yet been decided.

“Before you start asking, do not know if I’m playing yet,” Williams told reporters on Thursday. “Have to go through a bunch of medical protocols, obviously have to get out there and practice, do the stress testing that you do when you’re trying to come back from injury or serious injury.”

Williams also clarified that reports regarding the specifics of his hamstring injury have been inaccurate, stating that he suffered a “pretty serious” tear and that “every single” report about it had been wrong. He indicated that a decision on his playing status would be made after further evaluation.

In a related note, discussions about player expectations and potential game outcomes, including comments on Caleb Williams, were part of a recent sports program. One analyst suggested Williams has "a pretty good chance" to play on Sunday and noted his Instagram bio change to "I’m inevitable" ahead of the game.