Updated Dec. 29, 2025, 12:54 p.m. ET
NFL fans around the country will be watching Matthew Stafford attempt to put the finishing touches on his MVP campaign when the Los Angeles Rams face the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football to close out Week 17.
The 37-year-old has been highly impressive this season, passing for 4,179 yards, 40 touchdowns and five interceptions. While Stafford continues to take his game to another level, many are still wondering what the future holds for the Falcons at the QB position.
Michael Penix Jr. partially tore his ACL in Week 11 and was forced to undergo season-ending knee surgery. The former top-10 pick had his share of ups and downs in 2025, but despite showing a ton of promise, some have already written Penix off as “injury prone” due to his prior injuries in college.
Even though Penix played two healthy seasons at Washington before the draft and did not sustain any injuries during his rookie year, some can’t shake their concerns. Before you write Penix off, let’s take a look at Stafford’s injury-riddled start to his NFL career for some perspective.
Stafford missed 19 games in first 2 NFL seasons
During his early years in Detroit, Stafford took an absolute beating behind one of the worst offensive lines in football. While his willingness to stand tough in the pocket and absorb hits led to some big plays, it also hurt the young QB’s ability to stay on the field. Stafford missed 19 out of 32 possible games over his first two NFL seasons.
He suffered knee and shoulder injuries in Year 1, and was shut down for the season after 10 games due to a dislocated kneecap. In Year 2, he separated his shoulder in the season opener. After returning at midseason, Stafford re-injured his shoulder after two games and was ruled out for the rest of the year.
The injury-prone label stuck with him for a few years, though. Stafford’s former Detroit Lions teammate, Zack Follett, even called him a “china doll” during a radio interview in 2011.
“Stafford, good guy,” Follett said of his QB. “He’s a china doll right now. Anytime he gets hit, he goes down. Hopefully, it’s just patiently waiting for him, because the kid is an awesome talent.”
After missing a good chunk of his first two years in the NFL, Stafford didn’t miss a game for the next eight seasons. In fact, just a few months after Follett’s comments, Stafford went on to pass 41 touchdowns and over 5,000 yards during the 2011 season.
Here’s a look at how Stafford and Penix stack up after their first two NFL seasons.
Matthew Stafford: Stats after 2 NFL seasons
- Games played: 13 (13 starts)
- Passing yards: 2,802
- Passing TDs: 19
- INT: 21
- Completions: 258
- Pass attempts: 473
- Completion rate: 54.5
- Passer Rating: 67.1
- Rushing yards: 119
- Rushing TD: 3
- Team Record: 3-10
Michael Penix Jr.: Stats after 2 NFL seasons
- Games: 14 (12 starts)
- Passing Yards: 2,757
- Passing TD: 12
- INT: 6
- Completions: 227
- Pass attempts: 381
- Completion rate: 59.6
- Passer Rating: 85.8
- Rushing yards: 81
- Rushing TD: 2
- Team Record: 4-8
Obviously, this isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison between the two former top-10 picks. Stafford was both younger and playing for a considerably less talented team than the one Penix inherited. However, the Falcons put Penix in an awkward position by having him backup a disgruntled Cousins.
Then, when Penix did take over, he had to deal with Cousins breathing down his neck in a way that few first-round quarterbacks have experienced. The Falcons knew they were swimming in uncharted waters when they doubled down on quarterbacks, and while it didn’t go according to plan, it’s way too early to write off Penix.
Injuries are a part of football, and as we saw with Stafford, time drastically changes the perception around these types of things. The man once known around Detroit as “Matthew Glassford” is now a lock for the Hall of Fame.
