Falcons quarterback Michael Penix is not a full participant in OTA practices this week as he continues recovering from a torn ACL, but he is taking part in 7-on-7 work. Penix says he feels like himself and aims to be ready for Atlanta’s September season opener
For now, Michael Penix is walking a careful line through Atlanta’s offseason—close enough to touch the rhythm of the quarterback room, but not yet fully in it.
Penix isn’t a full participant in the Falcons’ OTA practices this week. even as his recovery from a torn ACL continues progressing. Still. the Falcons’ quarterback has moved into 7-on-7 work at this stage. and on Tuesday he sounded confident about where his body is. He said he “feels like himself” on the field.
His target is equally clear: Penix’s goal, he said, has “always been” to be ready for the team’s season opener in September. That matters because once he’s cleared for full football activities, he’ll have to compete for the right to start against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
The task isn’t abstract. Penix will have to beat out Tua Tagovailoa for the starting job. Asked where his mindset will go as that decision comes into focus. Penix pushed back on the idea of getting pulled into what anyone else is doing. “I’m running my own race,” Penix said, via the team’s website. “I can’t look into another lane. But at the same time, we are working together. That’s what its all about. Working together and working with each other to finish the race.”.
It’s the kind of message that lands differently when you remember the timeline he’s working against. The team won’t get a clean read on how the competition is shaping up until Penix is back to full speed. and the first major quarterback decision Kevin Stefanski will make as head coach in Atlanta could hinge on exactly that—how quickly Penix can translate “feels like himself” into full-speed football activity.
Michael Penix Falcons OTAs ACL recovery Tua Tagovailoa Kevin Stefanski Steelers season opener