RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Falcons QB battle just took a wild turn after huge Michael Penix Jr. news originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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The Atlanta Falcons ’ quarterback competition is about to get much more interesting.
Michael Penix Jr. has been cleared to fully participate in practice, including 11-on-11 team periods, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced Saturday following Atlanta’s 34-6 preseason victory over the Indianapolis Colts .
The clearance represents a major step for Penix, who underwent surgery on his left ACL in November. Throughout the offseason and training camp, the former first-round pick had been limited primarily to individual drills and 7-on-7 work.
Now, Penix will finally get an opportunity to compete under the same practice conditions as Tua Tagovailoa.
Penix said Thursday that he planned to speak with his doctor about the next stage of his recovery, and Saturday’s announcement provided the news Atlanta had been waiting for.
The 26-year-old quarterback has dealt with significant knee injuries throughout his career. Penix tore his right ACL twice during his college career before suffering the left ACL injury last season, giving him three ACL surgeries.
Falcons have a QB controversy brewing
Before the latest injury, Penix had shown why Atlanta selected him No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL draft. Penix made 9 starts, completing 58 of 100 passes for 1,982 yards, 9 touchdowns and three interceptions. He averaged 7.4 yards per attempt and finished with an 57.9 QBR.
His return to full-team work could reshape Atlanta’s quarterback battle.
The Falcons signed Tagovailoa to a one-year, $1.3 million contract during the offseason, giving the former Miami Dolphins starter an opportunity to compete for the job. Because Penix had been limited, Tagovailoa received the majority of Atlanta’s 11-on-11 opportunities throughout the spring and summer.
That advantage is about to disappear.
With the regular-season opener approaching, the Falcons can finally evaluate Penix and Tagovailoa on more equal footing. For Penix, Saturday’s clearance is more than another rehabilitation milestone.
It’s his chance to reclaim the Falcons’ offense.
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