When the Atlanta Falcons (3-3) take the field on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins (1-6), they will have to do so without two of their biggest stars on offense.
NFL Network Ian Rapoport reported ahead of kickoff that the team will be without both starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and star wide receiver Drake London.
Penix was ruled out with a bone bruise to his knee, suffered in last week’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers, while London was added late to the Falcons’ injury report with a hip issue, downgraded to questionable and ultimately ruled inactive.
Veteran QB Kirk Cousins will start in Week 8 in place of Penix.
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Penix has had an uneven start to the 2025 season. Through six games, he has completed 119 of 195 passes (61%) for 1,409 passing yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Despite the high passing yardage, he boasts a QBR of just 47.7, which ranks 22nd among all starting QBs in the league.
London has experienced much of the same inconsistency. While he leads the team in receiving with 469 receiving yards, he has just two touchdowns and 38 receptions, despite a whopping 63 targets (tied for the ninth-most in the NFL).
The team is led by star running back Bijan Robinson, who has 524 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 97 carries (5.4 yards per carry), and ranks second on the team in receiving with 390 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns on 30 receptions (13.0 yards per catch).
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With Penix and London both out, Robinson will again be leaned on against a Dolphins defense that is currently allowing just 92.4 rushing yards per game, the fourth-fewest in the NFL.
Despite the injuries, Atlanta remains 6.5-point favorites playing in front of their home crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Falcons are coming off a Week 7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, but remain undefeated (3-0) at home, while the Dolphins are on a three-game losing skid after suffering a 31-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
