Chairshot NFL News Report (9/25/2026): Penix Powers Falcons, Dart Heads to IR & Darnold Nears Return

Michael Penix Jr. powers Atlanta past Green Bay, Jaxson Dart lands on IR and Sam Darnold takes a major step toward returning.

Michael Penix Jr. waited nearly a year to get back onto an NFL field, and his return immediately changed the look of the Atlanta Falcons.

Atlanta stunned Green Bay 35-14 at Lambeau Field on Thursday night behind huge performances from Penix, Bijan Robinson and Drake London. Elsewhere, the Giants officially moved Jaxson Dart to injured reserve, Sam Darnold took another major step toward returning for Seattle and Dallas will travel to Brazil without four defensive players.

It’s the Chairshot NFL News Report for September 25, 2026!

Michael Penix Jr. Sparks Atlanta in 35-14 Win

Atlanta Falcons 35, Green Bay Packers 14

The Falcons finally looked like the offense they expected to have this season Thursday night, rolling past Green Bay 35-14 in Michael Penix Jr.’s return from last year’s torn ACL. Penix overcame an interception on Atlanta’s opening possession to finish 18-of-25 for 256 yards, one touchdown and one interception as the Falcons improved to 1-2.

Penix was particularly sharp after the rough beginning. He completed 13 of 15 passes during the second and third quarters, converted all five of his third-down throws during that stretch and found Austin Hooper for a five-yard touchdown shortly before halftime. Drake London immediately benefited from having Penix back, catching nine passes for a career-high 194 yards.

Bijan Robinson did even more damage. Robinson ran 29 times for 194 yards and two touchdowns while adding 19 receiving yards, giving him 213 yards from scrimmage. Atlanta entered the night having scored only 16 points through its first two games and had gone 27 consecutive possessions without reaching the red zone, but the Falcons scored 27 straight points after Green Bay opened the scoring.

Green Bay’s problems were just as significant. The Packers rushed for only 17 net yards, while Jordan Love completed 28 of 53 passes for 312 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Atlanta generated 23 pressures and 12 quarterback hits, while Green Bay surrendered 242 rushing yards and 498 total yards.

The Packers are now 1-2 after losing their home opener for the first time since 2012. Injuries remain part of the equation with Micah Parsons unavailable Thursday, Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner’s Exempt List and the offensive line already missing multiple starters, but the bigger issue is that Green Bay has now gone three weeks without establishing a functional running game or consistent passing rhythm.

For Atlanta, the significance goes beyond getting its first win. The Falcons started three different quarterbacks across their first three games because of injuries to Penix and Tua Tagovailoa, and Thursday offered the first real glimpse of the offense they planned to build around Penix, Robinson and London.

Jaxson Dart Officially Lands on Injured Reserve

The Giants officially placed Jaxson Dart on injured reserve Thursday after determining that his injured left knee will require season-ending surgery. What initially appeared capable of being a four-to-six-week MCL injury developed into a much more serious situation after additional testing revealed multiple damaged structures in the knee.

That ends the uncertainty surrounding New York’s quarterback position for now. Jameis Winston will return to the starting role after replacing Dart during Monday night’s loss to the Rams, and Winston acknowledged Thursday that another starting opportunity is exactly what he has been preparing for.

The immediate football issue is whether Winston can keep New York competitive, but Dart’s development remains the larger concern. The Giants spent the offseason building around their young quarterback, and the original possibility of losing him for several weeks has turned into losing essentially an entire season of starting experience.

New York also has other injury problems entering Sunday. Brian Burns and Andrew Thomas remained sidelined from practice Thursday, adding more uncertainty around a Giants team already trying to absorb the loss of its starting quarterback.

Sam Darnold Takes Major Step Toward Returning

Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold was a full participant in practice Thursday after being limited Wednesday, significantly improving his chances of returning Sunday against Washington. Darnold has missed most of the last two weeks because of the glute injury he suffered during Seattle’s season opener.

Darnold said he is feeling good and is trying to make his return this weekend, while the Seahawks continue to evaluate him day by day. Seattle never placed him on injured reserve, and coach Mike Macdonald has maintained that Darnold will return to the starting job when healthy despite Drew Lock playing well in his absence.

That makes this a considerably better quarterback situation than it appeared to be two weeks ago. Seattle is already 2-0, Lock kept the offense moving while Darnold recovered and the Seahawks never had to accelerate the starter’s return because their season was slipping away.

Washington will almost certainly be without its own starter. Jayden Daniels remained out of practice Thursday with the dislocated left elbow he suffered against Dallas, leaving Marcus Mariota positioned to start against Seattle.

Cowboys Leave Four Defenders Home Before Brazil Trip

Dallas will head to Rio de Janeiro without four defensive players for Sunday’s game against Baltimore. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, cornerback Cobie Durant and safeties P.J. Locke and Malik Hooker have all been ruled out and will not travel with the team.

Overshown continues to recover from a hamstring injury, while Durant suffered his own hamstring injury against Washington. Locke tore the plantar fascia in his foot during the same game, and Hooker remains out with the fractured forearm he suffered in Week 1. Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer previously indicated that Durant and Locke could miss multiple weeks.

That creates an uncomfortable matchup heading into the NFL’s latest international game. Dallas is 1-1 and coming off a 37-20 win over Washington, but the Cowboys will arrive in Brazil with significant holes at linebacker and in the secondary against a Baltimore offense capable of stressing both areas.

The Ravens have their own injury questions. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike is attempting to return from the neck injury that has kept him out since September 2025, while Baltimore has also been monitoring injuries to players including Zay Flowers, Trey Hendrickson and Ronnie Stanley during the shortened preparation window.

Bears Could Be Down to Case Keenum

Chicago still does not know who will start at quarterback Monday night against Philadelphia. Caleb Williams remains week-to-week because of the hamstring injury he suffered against Minnesota, while backup Tyson Bagent remains in the concussion protocol after being injured while replacing Williams.

Neither quarterback would have practiced Thursday based on Chicago’s estimated injury report. If both Williams and Bagent are unavailable, 14-year veteran Case Keenum would make his first start for the Bears against the defending NFC champions.

Philadelphia has injury concerns of its own. DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley did not practice Thursday, while Saquon Barkley was limited after suffering a stinger during the Eagles’ Week 2 victory over Tennessee.

Chicago has several more days than most teams to sort out its quarterback situation because the game is not until Monday night. That extra recovery time matters particularly for Bagent, whose availability depends on progressing through the NFL’s concussion protocol rather than simply tolerating an injury.

Joey Porter Jr. Ends Contract Discussion for Now

Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. said Thursday that he has moved on from his failed contract negotiations and did not request a trade from Pittsburgh. Porter has yet to play this season because of the back injury that kept him out through training camp, and he still did not provide a firm timetable for his return.

Porter said his focus is now on getting back to full health and indicated that he expects to play at some point this season. The distinction matters after his absence became tied publicly to both the injury and his desire for a new contract.

Pittsburgh can put the contract conversation aside for the moment, but it still needs one of its most important defensive backs on the field. The Steelers were held to three points by New England last week, which makes defensive health even more valuable while the offense works through its own problems.

Week 3 changed quickly Thursday night. Atlanta went from looking like one of the league’s most dysfunctional offenses to putting nearly 500 yards on Green Bay, while the Packers suddenly have much larger questions than the injuries already reshaping their roster.

Penix’s return gives the Falcons something tangible to build around. The Giants are now dealing with the opposite reality after losing Dart for the season, while Seattle may be close to getting its starting quarterback back without having lost a game during his absence.

The rest of the weekend will determine which of those early-season developments actually begin changing trajectories.

This report includes information from: NFL.com, ESPN.com, AtlantaFalcons.com, SeattleSeahawks.com, DallasCowboys.com, PhiladelphiaEagles.com, ChicagoBears.com, Giants-related reporting, and official team injury reports.