The Atlanta Falcons are preparing for a key rivalry game against the New Orleans Saints, facing several roster and injury challenges as they enter Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will miss the remainder of the season due to a partially torn ACL in his left knee, which will require surgery and at least nine months of recovery. Head coach Raheem Morris confirmed that Penix has not yet undergone reconstructive surgery. As a result, Kirk Cousins will take over as starting quarterback. The team elevated Easton Stick from the practice squad to fill out the quarterback group and signed Kyle Trask to the practice squad.
“Obviously got a good opportunity against the Saints this week,” Cousins said Wednesday. “But wanted to just acknowledge how tough the injury is for Michael. My heart breaks for him. He’s someone who has handled adversity so well through his football journey, and unfortunately, he’s having to do it again. But I’m very confident he has a lot of good football ahead of him. …
“And yeah, we’re just looking forward to getting to go against the Saints and trying to get back on track here and get things going in the right direction.”
Wide receiver Drake London will also be sidelined with a PCL sprain and is considered week-to-week. London leads all Falcons receivers with 60 catches for 810 yards and six touchdowns—more than all other wide receivers combined this season.
“I’d love to see (Mooney) really be able to take off here in the last stretch of the year,” Cousins said this week about Darnell Mooney stepping up in London’s absence.
In positive news, inside linebacker Divine Deablo may return after being on injured reserve with a forearm fracture; his 21-day window for activation was opened this week, though he remains listed as questionable.
“Assuming everything goes well,” Morris said, “he should be back playing.”
However, rookie Billy Bowman Jr. was added to Friday’s injury report with an Achilles issue that Morris described as “not good news.”
Statistically, rookies Jalon Walker (4 sacks) and James Pearce Jr. (2.5 sacks) have both made notable contributions this season—the first pair of Falcons rookies since 1988 each with at least 2.5 sacks in one year.
If Atlanta wins Sunday’s matchup in New Orleans, they would tie their all-time regular-season series against the Saints at 55-55 apiece—a rivalry where neither team has won on its opponent’s field since Week 1 of 2022.
Sunday also marks “My Cause My Cleats” day across the NFL, when players wear custom cleats supporting personal causes; Jalon Walker is raising awareness for Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC), honoring someone close to him affected by this condition.
Falcons fans can review weekly power rankings updates and expert predictions regarding Sunday’s outcome via coverage from Will McFadden and Terrin Waack.
