Michael Penix Jr. Clears the Injury Report Just in Time for the Bears

Michael Penix Jr. is officially off the injury report, meaning his ribs are intact enough to face the Chicago Bears this Sunday.

Ian Rapoport confirmed the Atlanta Falcons quarterback is good to go after logging full practices on Wednesday and Thursday. For anyone holding their breath every time Penix takes a hit, you can exhale—at least until the first defensive series.

"Ian Rapoport reported that Penix is 'off the injury report and good to go.'"

The Falcons desperately need him upright. Atlanta is coming off a frustrating 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, a game that proved this offense cannot afford to operate at less than full capacity.

Playing NFL football with a rib issue sounds like a medieval torture method. Most of us need a day off work if we sleep on our mattress wrong, but Penix is out here preparing to dodge 300-pound defensive linemen with a torso that probably feels like it went through a meat tenderizer.

Penix has a well-documented injury history from his college days, making any appearance on the medical report a minor heart attack for the fanbase. Bettors looking at the Falcons' team total this weekend will definitely factor in whether he is one awkward tackle away from heading back to the medical tent.

The Bears roll into Atlanta on October 18, and they will absolutely test how healed those ribs actually are. Penix is active, but the real challenge is whether he finishes the game looking as healthy as the Friday injury report claims he is.