Who Should I Start? Joe Burrow or Michael Penix Jr.

Monday, December 15, 3:40 PM

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed on Monday that quarterback Joe Burrow will start the rest of the season despite the team being officially eliminated from the playoffs, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. When asked why Burrow will continue to play, Taylor said, "Because we want to win." Burrow suffered a turf-toe injury in Week 2 that required surgery, and the 29-year-old didn't make his return until Week 13. The former first overall pick threw for 545 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions on 49-for-82 passing in his first two games back before going 25-for-39 for 225 yards, no touchdowns, and two picks in Sunday's 24-0 shutout loss to the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. Burrow has thrown costly pick-sixes in each of the last two weeks and seemed to question his long-term future in Cincy last week. For fantasy football purposes, Burrow will be a strong QB1 option in Week 16 versus the Miami Dolphins.

Wednesday, November 26, 1:06 PM

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said on Wednesday that quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) had successful surgery on his knee on Tuesday, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Penix had full reconstructive surgery to fix a partially torn ACL in his left knee, which will keep him out for the rest of this season and possibly for the start of the 2026 season next fall. The 25-year-old second-year signal-caller is facing a nine-month recovery, which will force Atlanta to rethink its long-term plan at the QB position this offseason. This is Penix's third ACL reconstruction in his career after he had two knee surgeries in college. Kirk Cousins will start the rest of the year under center for the Falcons, but depending on how he finishes the season, the Falcons could opt out of the final two seasons of his four-year deal.