Michael Penix: Everything you need to know

Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that Penix (ACL) has not been cleared to participate in 11-on-11 team drills at mandatory minicamp, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports. Stefanski reiterated that Atlanta remains "very comfortable" with the rehab progress Penix has made in his recovery from a left ACL tear. Regarding the Falcons' quarterback competition between Penix and Tua Tagovailoa, Stefanski said "we're not giving out any jobs in June." By all accounts, Atlanta's true QB competition won't kick off until Penix has been cleared to suit up for full-team reps. That said, Stefanski declined to state whether he expects Penix to be cleared by the start of training camp in July. If Penix remains limited to individual drills at that point, Tagovailoa will have a tangible opportunity to build early momentum.

Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski declined to announce Monday whether or not Penix (knee) will be ready to handle 11-on-11 reps during mandatory minicamp next week, Marc Raimondi of ESPN reports. Stefanski said during OTAs in May that clearance for Penix to handle team reps would be "coming soon" and that the quarterback has impressed in 7-on-7 drills, but it remains to be seen whether the 2024 first-round pick will be on the field for full-team activities during minicamp. The 26-year-old had a scheduled day off Monday, and Stefanski said he is "hitting every milestone he's supposed to hit" in his rehab. Penix is recovering from mid-November surgery to repair a partially torn left ACL. Stefanski also noted that Atlanta's quarterback competition between Penix and Tua Tagovailoa will not truly begin until both players are available for full-team reps.

Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Penix (ACL) has not yet been cleared for 11-on-11 drills at OTAs, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports. Penix took part in non-contact 7-on-7 drills and individual work during OTAs in mid-May, but he's not yet ready to ramp up his participation level to 11-on-11 activities. In the meantime, the full allotment of such reps will go the way of Tua Tagovailoa. Once Penix is fully recovered from the surgery he underwent in mid-November of the 2025 season to repair a partially torn left ACL, however, he and Tagovailoa will be slated to compete for No. 1 reps. Stefanski declined to offer a specific assessment of Penix's rehab progress to date, per Raimondi, though he said the 2024 first-round pick is doing "outstanding" and is "exactly where he needs to be" despite not yet being "100 percent."