Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. left Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers after taking a hard hit in the third quarter.

Penix appeared to have a limp after taking a shot on a third-and-10 incompletion with the Falcons leading 21-16. The second-year signal-caller walked off with trainers before heading into the medical tent to be evaluated.

He was replaced in the game by veteran backup Kirk Cousins, who threw for 48 yards on 6-of-14 passing in an eventual 30-27 overtime loss.

Here's the latest on Penix's status and outlook:

Michael Penix Jr. injury update

Penix was listed as questionable to return with a knee injury but did not return to the game.

After the contest, Falcons coach Raheem Morris did not have any update on Penix's status, saying more information was needed before an assessment could be made on either the quarterback or wide receiver Drake London, who also departed with a knee injury.

Morris said he believed there was a chance that Penix could have come back into the game but that things "didn't look good."

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Sunday that Penix is believed to have aggravated the bone bruise injury that sidelined him for a game earlier this season, though additional tests are required to confirm the injury and a potential timeline for return.

Michael Penix Jr. stats

Penix completed 13 of 16 passes for 175 yards before leaving the game. At halftime, he had completed 11 of 12 passes, which marked the third-best completion percentage (91.7%) by a Falcons quarterback in the first half of a game in the last 30 years.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michael Penix Jr. injury update: Falcons QB exits with knee injury

Reporting by Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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