Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-3, 220 lbs |
| Birthplace: Cookeville, TN |
| Age: 26 |
| School: Washington |
| Experience: 3 |
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6:45Falcons Name Tua Tagovailoa Their Week 1 Starter At Quarterback
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0:44Breaking: Falcons Name Tua Tagovailoa Starting QB for Week 1
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1:06Falcons Still Undecided on QB1
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0:53Tua to Start Preseason Finale, Penix Won't Play
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1:47Falcons Replacing Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.
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1:28Breaking Down the Falcons QB Competition
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1:59Falcons QB Battle: Tua vs Penix Jr
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0:36Falcons QB battle: Why Penix has the edge
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0:50
Michael Penix Jr. Fully Cleared to Practice
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1:38Is Tua Tagovailoa on the Hot Seat?
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1:16Breaking News: Falcons' James Pearce Jr. Suspended 8 Games
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1:01Tua Tagovailoa to Start For Falcons vs. Broncos
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11:04Latest from Around the NFL
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1:05Falcons to Start Tua Tagovailoa in Preseason Opener
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1:34Who Will Be the Falcons' Week 1 Starting QB?
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9:44NFL News: Donald Watch
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0:50Kevin Stefanski Declines to Name Falcons QB1
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6:52NFL Training Camp News
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1:12Falcons Camp: QB Injuries & Bijan Robinson Contract Talks
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10:06Quarterback Battles To Watch at Training Camps
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Top Michael Penix Jr. News
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Will be inactive for opener
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Penix (knee) will be inactive for Sunday's season opener in Pittsburgh, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
While addressing the media shortly after the Falcons named Tua Tagovailoa their Week 1 starter Monday, Stefanski noted that Penix had taken part in only six 11-on-11 practices during training camp, so the third-year quarterback will need some more time to get back to full speed following last November's ACL tear before making his 2026 debut, per Raimondi. The Falcons were pleased enough with Penix's progress to wait until less than a week before the season opener to name a starter, which suggests that he'll likely get a chance to supplant Tagovailoa atop the depth chart at some point this season. While Penix is in street clothes for Week 1, Cooper Rush will step in as Tagovailoa's backup, and undrafted rookie Jack Strand will serve as the No. 3 quarterback.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Won't start in Week 1
Penix (knee) won't start the season opener Sunday in Pittsburgh, after the Falcons named Tua Tagovailoa their top quarterback heading into Week 1, Will McFadden and Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports.
Though Penix is expected to receive the opportunity to start at some point in 2026, he'll have to wait at least one more week before getting his chance while he continues to work his way back from the torn ACL he sustained last November. Penix didn't play in the preseason and wasn't cleared to take part in 11-on-11 drills until Aug. 22, so he'll need to get some full practices under his belt before the Falcons consider elevating him into the starting role over Tagovailoa, who completed 10 of 13 pass attempts for 117 yards in two exhibition contests but fumbled twice and generally struggled to push the ball downfield during the preseason and training camp. The Falcons kept four quarterbacks on their roster following the preseason, so Cooper Rush and Jack Strand will be available as backup options if Penix isn't ready to serve as Tagovailoa's understudy in the season opener.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Will start 'eventually,' if not Week 1
The Falcons plan for Penix (knee) to start "eventually" this season, but head coach Kevin Stefanski has yet to decide whether Penix or Tua Tagovailoa will direct the offense Week 1 in Pittsburgh, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
Penix didn't suit up for the preseason while completing his recovery from Nov. 25 surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, but he was cleared to take part in 11-on-11 drills just under two weeks ago and has been able to get some reps in with the first-team offense. Stefanski plans to continue evaluating both Penix and Tagovailoa in practices this week and next before naming a starter. Because of Penix's limitations for much of training camp, Tagovailoa initially appeared to be a strong bet to open the season as the Falcons' starter, but a poor preseason in which he fumbled twice and struggled to push the ball down the field has thus far prevented him from securing the Week 1 nod.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Intends to be ready Week 1
Penix (knee) won't play in Friday's preseason game in Miami, but he believes he'll be available for a Week 1 road matchup with the Steelers on Sunday, Sept. 13, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Penix was cleared for team drills as of Saturday, but coach Kevin Stefanski won't allow the third-year pro to suit up with only three such practices under his belt. Penix also told Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network that it's "too soon" to play in a game, but he thinks he'll be capable both physically and mentally to be the starter if Stefanski names him the No. 1 over competitor Tua Tagovailoa. Penix is completing the final stages of his recovery from the torn ACL he sustained in his left knee in Week 11 of last season.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: In line to see some first-team reps Monday
Both Tua Tagovailoa and Penix (knee) will take reps with the first-team offense Monday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Monday's session will mark Penix's first work in full-team drills this summer, a significant milestone for the QB as he works his way back from the torn ACL he suffered in his left knee Week 11 of last season. At this stage, it's unclear if Penix will play in Friday's preseason finale against the Dolphins, but the 2024 first-rounder's ability to commence working in full drills gives him an opportunity to make some strides in the team's QB competition ahead of Week 1.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Cleared for team drills
Penix (knee) has been cleared to participate in 11-on-11 drills, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
It's a positive step in Penix's recovery from ACL surgery that he underwent in November. He's been limited to 7-on-7 drills for most of training camp, but the expectation is that he'll upgrade to full team drills Monday. Depending on how his knee reacts to additional work, Penix could play in the Falcons' preseason finale against the Dolphins on Friday.
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Falcons' Michael Penix: Meeting with doctor for health checkpoint
Penix said that he's meeting with his doctor Thursday to see where his left knee stands, William McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
So far in training camp, Penix has been capped to 7-on-7 drills as he works his way back from the torn ACL he suffered in his left knee Week 11 of last season. He noted that he's hoping to gain clearance, likely for 11-on-11 work, during Thursday's check-up, but he's unsure that'll occur. In any case, Penix continues to make progress in his recovery, but his limitations in practice seemingly has him behind Tua Tagovailoa in the competition to be the Falcons' starting QB to begin the campaign.
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