The Atlanta Falcons have trimmed one name from their quarterback mix before training camp even gets rolling.
On Tuesday morning, the team announced it had waived veteran Trevor Siemian with a non-football injury designation. Siemian had signed on a veteran minimum deal with no guaranteed money, so Atlanta will not take on any dead cap charges after moving on.
His absence had already been felt. Siemian was not at OTAs in early June, and that opened the door for undrafted free agent Jack Strand to get more work. The Falcons kept only two quarterbacks last season, but in a recent 53-man roster projection, Strand was slotted in as the third quarterback ahead of Siemian.
Now, Strand is the No. 3 quarterback by default, at least for the moment. That still may not be the final word. Atlanta could add another arm for camp, especially with 90 players needing reps and August heat and humidity in Flowery Branch making depth matter.
The bigger battle remains at the top of the depth chart, where Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. are set to compete for the No. 1 job. Tagovailoa has the early edge, in part because Penix has not yet been cleared as a full participant at training camp. Head coach Kevin Stefanski is expected to announce Wednesday morning whether Penix has been cleared.
The veterans reported Tuesday, and practice begins Wednesday. Penix took part in everything except 11v11 work during OTAs and minicamp, with concern about anyone landing on his surgically repaired knee before he is fully ready. Even so, he was still rolling out and moving without any noticeable lingering effects from his surgery in November.
Tagovailoa, meanwhile, is looking to rebound after his worst season as a pro, a year that helped lead to his release from the Miami Dolphins. He is still only 28, but he is entering his seventh NFL season and gives Atlanta a veteran presence in the quarterback room.
For now, the Falcons have a little more clarity behind the top two. The real spotlight, though, will stay fixed on the quarterback competition when camp opens.
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