- May 21, 2026
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To this point, the Falcons' quarterback competition has not truly begun in earnest because Michael Penix Jr. has not been fully medically cleared.
Penix, who suffered a torn ACL in November, is still recovering and told reporters in his Wednesday press conference that he feels like he’s getting better every day.
While Penix’s original timetable for recovery had him being cleared in late August, he said that he could be cleared “any day.”
“I'm not really chasing a timeline. I'm just chasing trying to be better every day,” Penix said, via transcript from the team. “Each and every day I get out there, I look forward to being better than I was the day before. That comes with obviously just the reps, time on task, and also just what I'm doing in the rehab and the treatment room as well, so I can get to where I want to be.”
Penix noted he doesn’t yet have a scheduled date to get re-examined by his doctor to be cleared, but that’s a step he’ll need before he’s able to fully participate. That also means he won’t truly be a part of a QB competition until that time.
“I mentioned it before, I can't worry about a starting job until I'm worried about getting back on the field,” Penix said. “If I can't be on the field, how am I going to be the starter? That's all my focus is right now — just trying to get back and get healthy so that whenever that time comes, then we can talk about the whole starter thing, but that's not my focus right now.
“I'm just getting stronger and getting more confident in my knee and everything. My body has been feeling really good. I'm hitting all my weight goals and making sure I'm taking my diet seriously. I'm doing everything I can to help my knee get better faster. I'm definitely better than where I was last week.”
But as Penix continues to make progress, Tua Tagovailoa will have the ability to put some separation between himself and Penix’s base level in the new offense under head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Penix, who suffered a torn ACL in November, is still recovering and told reporters in his Wednesday press conference that he feels like he’s getting better every day.
While Penix’s original timetable for recovery had him being cleared in late August, he said that he could be cleared “any day.”
“I'm not really chasing a timeline. I'm just chasing trying to be better every day,” Penix said, via transcript from the team. “Each and every day I get out there, I look forward to being better than I was the day before. That comes with obviously just the reps, time on task, and also just what I'm doing in the rehab and the treatment room as well, so I can get to where I want to be.”
Penix noted he doesn’t yet have a scheduled date to get re-examined by his doctor to be cleared, but that’s a step he’ll need before he’s able to fully participate. That also means he won’t truly be a part of a QB competition until that time.
“I mentioned it before, I can't worry about a starting job until I'm worried about getting back on the field,” Penix said. “If I can't be on the field, how am I going to be the starter? That's all my focus is right now — just trying to get back and get healthy so that whenever that time comes, then we can talk about the whole starter thing, but that's not my focus right now.
“I'm just getting stronger and getting more confident in my knee and everything. My body has been feeling really good. I'm hitting all my weight goals and making sure I'm taking my diet seriously. I'm doing everything I can to help my knee get better faster. I'm definitely better than where I was last week.”
But as Penix continues to make progress, Tua Tagovailoa will have the ability to put some separation between himself and Penix’s base level in the new offense under head coach Kevin Stefanski.