ATLANTA — Atlanta Falcons defensive end Michael Penix Jr. will miss Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins after being placed on the questionable list due to a bruise on his left knee.
Kirk Cousins, who lost the starting job to Penix in the final three games of last season, will start for the first time in more than 10 months.
Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is available after being added to the injured list due to illness early Sunday. Tagovailoa did not have a playing status designation.
The Falcons' top receiver, Drake London, is inactive after being added to the injury report Saturday with a hip injury.
While Penix said Wednesday he expected to play and coach Raheem Morris also expressed confidence in the sophomore's ability to play despite the injury, the decision to place Penix on the inactive list was not a surprise. The Falcons promoted quarterback Easton Stick to the active roster from the practice squad on Saturday, an early sign that the team believes it needs to add depth behind Cousins.
Morris said Wednesday that the team will protect Penix and “not put him in danger” unless he can demonstrate in practice that he has the necessary mobility to elude pass rushers and play the position.
This is the first game Penix has missed after nine starts, including a 3-3 record in Sunday's game.
Cousins' only appearance in the first six games this season came in a 30-0 loss to Carolina on Sept. 21, when he completed 5 of 7 passes for 29 yards.
