Even while limited to just 7-on-7 sessions and individual drills in recent months, there were still moments from Michael Penix Jr. in practice when the 2024 top-10 draft pick was able to stand out and impress the new Atlanta Falcons staff thanks to a certain part of his skill set: a left arm that's capable of delivering throws that many other NFL quarterbacks, including the others in Atlanta, aren't capable of making.
"Some of the balls that jump out of his hand," a source said, "and that kind of live arm, it's impressive to see."
That arm is part of the reason that it will now become an interesting next three weeks in Atlanta leading into the Falcons' regular season opener against the Steelers on Sept. 13.
With Penix -- who has been working from a November ACL injury -- being cleared to fully participate in practice starting Monday, the Falcons are of the mindset that their QB competition can now truly begin.
While it's fair to say that free agent signee Tua Tagovailoa remains the favorite to win Atlanta's starting QB job, Penix will now get a chance these next few weeks to try and prove that he's the better option.
"It's just a true evaluation now with both guys being able to be in the huddle, control the line of scrimmage and control the game flow," a source said. "You're able to get a real sense from that aspect now and who's able to bring this offense to life."
Penix made nine starts last season before suffering the ACL injury, which was the fifth season-ending injury he's suffered since the start of his college career, including the third ACL tear.
Among the good from those nine starts was a touchdown-to-interception ratio of nine-to-three, two games with at least 298 passing yards and a three-touchdown performance vs. the Patriots. Among the bad: A 3-5 record for the Falcons in the games Penix played from start to finish, a completion percentage (60.1) that ranked fourth-worst among NFL QBs that made at least eight starts and a QB rating of 88.5 that tied, coincidentally with Tagovailoa, for just 26th-best in the NFL.
However, Penix will now get his chance to fully show what he can do under Atlanta's new staff and new head coach Kevin Stefanski. Although sources have emphasized that Penix has already done a lot during his work in 7-on-7 and individual drills, the team's practice Monday will give this staff their first look at him in an 11-on-11 setting.
The timing is good for the Falcons.
While a source said that Tagovailoa "has grown, especially (transitioning) from what he was asked to do in Miami and what he's asked to do now," there have also been ups and downs for him this offseason. That includes during the Falcons' preseason opener vs. the Broncos when he was 3 of 5 for 22 yards.
As part of Atlanta's plan, Tagovailoa didn't play in Atlanta's second preseason game but is expected to play in the preseason finale against the Dolphins on Friday. It's unclear as of yet whether Penix will play in that game.
Either way, even if it's just during practice, the Falcons' staff will now get a real chance to evaluate and compare both quarterbacks and then make a determination regarding which is the better option to be the team's starting QB.
That important part of this process starts Monday.
