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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Michael Penix Jr. cried in the locker room before the Atlanta Falcons' last preseason game in August, according to Falcons safety Jessie Bates III. Penix was emotional because he knew he was not ready to return from left ACL surgery last November.
On Thursday, Penix finally came back and helped lead the Falcons to a stunning 35-14 rout of the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. In his first game since tearing his ACL in Week 11 last November, Penix was 18-of-25 for 256 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Bates said Penix was "dying to get back."
"I know how much it means to him," Bates said. "I know how much he means to the locker room."