Falcons quarterback – Atlanta’s quarterback competition between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa is set to linger through OTAs and possibly deep into the preseason, as the Falcons keep the race on hold until Penix is healthy enough to practice at the same level.
The Falcons had hoped the quarterback battle between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa would heat up this spring. Instead, it’s pausing—quietly, firmly—because Penix can’t yet take part in the same kind of full-speed work.
Falcons quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt told reporters the team does not intend to start the quarterback competition until Penix is healthy enough to practice like Tagovailoa. Penix has not been able to participate in 11-on-11 drills this spring as he continues recovering from a torn ACL he sustained last season.
“It’s tough to have a competition when both guys aren’t competing at the same level right now,” Van Pelt said. “So, it’s hard and it’ll come. It’ll happen at some point. ”
Van Pelt framed it as an evaluation problem, not a lack of effort from Penix. “Mike’s done a great job of getting himself to where he is right now,” he said. “Really impressive to take 7-on-7 reps and go out and compete. That’s been great. But really, there’s no competition until we can actually evaluate him equally.”.
Penix and Tagovailoa are splitting reps as equally as possible for 7-on-7 drills during OTAs, with Penix still receiving the most reps as he works back. The catch is that 7-on-7 isn’t the same test as full-team practices, and the coaching staff isn’t pretending otherwise.
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski also declined to confirm whether Penix could see time in preseason games this summer. While the Falcons believe Penix isn’t falling behind in his recovery. the team isn’t treating the quarterback timeline like it has a fixed countdown—especially with mandatory minicamp approaching next week.
“He’s hitting every milestone that he’s supposed to hit,” Stefanski said. “We’re in constant communication with our medical team and Mike, and I think he’s doing everything he can do and certainly when he may want to do more, we have to hold him back from certain things potentially.”
Stefanski said he wouldn’t set time frames yet. “But not going to put any time frames out there just yet, just going to focus on what’s in front of us.”
That approach carries a straightforward consequence: whichever quarterback eventually wins the starting job may face a delay before the competition reaches the most meaningful stretch of the summer. If Penix isn’t ready in time. the other quarterback could be stuck losing first-team reps during pivotal training camp practices while the staff keeps evaluating both.
The Falcons aren’t the only team dealing with the frustration of split work. On Monday, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray said he’s frustrated by splitting reps with J.J. McCarthy during OTAs, saying it makes it harder for him to learn the offense.
For Atlanta, the similar split could hold for a significant portion of training camp—at least until Penix can practice in a way that allows the staff to judge the quarterbacks on the same terms.
Atlanta Falcons Michael Penix Jr. Tua Tagovailoa Alex Van Pelt Kevin Stefanski quarterback competition OTAs preseason training camp torn ACL