Falcons’ Michael Penix Jr. making progress in Tua Tagovailoa QB battle in 1 area, per Kevin Stefanski

The Atlanta Falcons have an intense and highly anticipated quarterback battle brewing in training camp, and Michael Penix Jr. is turning heads in one specific area. While veteran signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa currently leads the race as Penix recovers from ACL reconstruction surgery, the young prospect continues making significant strides.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski recently highlighted Penix’s development when it comes to taking dropbacks from under center via Will McFadden on X, formerly Twitter. For a quarterback adjusting to Stefanski’s offensive scheme, mastering this technique is a major hurdle.

“Very pleased in that area, specifically,” Stefanski noted. “And I think it’s a credit to coach [Alex] Van Pelt. It’s a credit to the players working very hard.”

This progress is especially impressive considering Penix’s physical limitations. After tearing his ACL in Week 11 of the 2025 season, he remains limited to 7-on-7 drills while Tagovailoa handles the 11-on-11 team reps. Despite being confined to lighter drills, Penix still shows off his elite arm talent. During Monday’s practice, he ripped a beautiful 25-yard strike down the right sideline to tight end Kyle Pitts, perfectly threading the needle into a tight window.

The Falcons are playing it safe with their young quarterback. Stefanski expects Penix to be fully cleared in the coming weeks, but he will likely remain sidelined for Friday’s preseason clash against the Denver Broncos. Meanwhile, Tagovailoa is managing some back tightness, but he is expected to start. 

Fans saw a glimpse of Penix’s potential during his 2024 preseason debut, where he completed 9 of 16 passes for 104 yards. As the regular season inches closer, Tagovailoa remains the clear favorite to start Week 1. However, if Penix keeps refining his footwork and flashing his explosive arm strength during 7-on-7 practice sessions, he could make this quarterback competition extremely interesting once doctors finally give him the green light to take off that red non-contact practice jersey.