Unfortunately for Penix, he and the Falcons received a double dose of bad news on Wednesday. Starting right tackle Kaleb McGary was carted off the field at practice with what the Falcons suggested was a lower left leg injury; the team also announced that McGary, a mainstay in the Falcons’ lineup since debuting in 2019, will undergo an MRI.

After seven straight losing seasons, Atlanta’s mix of young talent and future stars gives fans hope, but questions around quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and the coaching staff leave uncertainty about the franchise’s trajectory.