Michael Penix Jr.

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• Falcons' Michael Penix: Preseason usage TBD

  4D ago • By RotoWire

  Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Atlanta's starters will likely see action in the team's first and third preseason games, but it remains to be seen whether Penix (knee) will be ready to take the field by then, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports. Penix has progressed to taking part in 7-on-7 drills, though he has yet to be cleared for full-team drills. While the 2024 first-round pick recovers from November surgery to repair a torn ACL, Tua Tagovailoa (back) has had a chance to get a leg up in Atlanta's quarterback competition by working with the starters earlier in the offseason. Atlanta's QB room also includes Jack Strand and Cooper Rush.

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• Falcons' Michael Penix: Still weeks away?

  6D ago • By RotoWire

  Penix (ACL) said Wednesday that when speaking with doctors last week, he was told he was still one month removed from recovery, D. Orlando Ledbetter of BowTieSports.com reports. Penix also said that doctors told him he is further along in his recovery than expected, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com, but it's possible the 2024 first-rounder won't be cleared to participate in team reps for three more weeks, which would roughly align with the nine-month mark of his recovery from knee surgery undergone to repair a torn left ACL. Meanwhile, with Tua Tagovailoa (back tightness) also currently dealing with injury, Atlanta has signed Cooper Rush to provide depth at quarterback alongside undrafted rookie Jack Strand. Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports that the Falcons still have optimism that Penix could be cleared in time to log preseason action, so it's possible he could be ready for 11-on-11 drills before late August. That said, head coach Kevin Stefanski relayed Wednesday that he does not have an exact timetable for Penix to be fully cleared, per Raimondi.

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• Falcons' Michael Penix: Not ready for team drills

  6D ago • By RotoWire

  Coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Penix (knee) won't participate in 11-on-11 drills at the start of training camp, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports. While Penix -- who is bouncing back from a left ACL injury -- isn't ready to work in team drills yet, the QB will continue doing individual and 7-on-7 work at practice. Once he's cleared to work fully, Penix will turn his focus to competing with free-agent addition Tua Tagovailoa (back) for the team's Week 1 starting job. With that in mind, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com relays that Stefanski noted that he doesn't know exactly when Penix will gain clearance to work fully. Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports, however, that the Falcons are optimistic Penix could be cleared in time to log preseason action.

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• Falcons' Michael Penix: Expects to take team reps at camp

  06/17/2026 • By RotoWire

  Penix (ACL) said Tuesday at mandatory minicamp that "the expectation" is for him to participate in 11-on-11 drills during training camp, though he will first need to gain clearance from team doctors, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports. Penix did not participate in full-team drills at mandatory minicamp, though he reportedly showed no signs of discomfort while taking 7-on-7 and individual reps as well as footwork drills with quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt. The 26-year-old signal-caller spoke positively about his recovery progress, saying "each and every day that I come out here, I feel better than the day before." Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Penix is "exactly where he needs to be." Once Penix is fully cleared, he will face a competition with Tua Tagovailoa for the Week 1 starting job.

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• Falcons' Michael Penix: Still not ready for 11-on-11 drills

  06/16/2026 • By RotoWire

  Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that Penix (ACL) has not been cleared to participate in 11-on-11 drills at mandatory minicamp, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports. Stefanski reiterated that Atlanta remains "very comfortable" with the progress Penix has made in his recovery from left ACL surgery. Regarding the quarterback competition between the 2024 first-round pick and former Dolphin Tua Tagovailoa, Stefanski said "we're not giving out any jobs in June." By all accounts, the QB competition won't truly kick off until Penix has been cleared for full-team reps, but the head coach declined to state whether that's expected to happen by the start of training camp in July. If Penix remains limited to individual drills at that point, Tagovailoa will likely begin to pull ahead.

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