Michael Penix Jr. didn’t need long to make his presence felt once he got back into full-contact work.
After being cleared for 11-on-11s for the first time all summer, Penix returned to Falcons practice on Monday and immediately gave the staff and fans a reminder of why he’s still squarely in the quarterback mix. The former top-10 pick has already been throwing since mid-March and working in 7-on-7 periods since OTAs began, but this was the real checkpoint in his ACL recovery.
There was some expected rust, sure. Penix finished 4-for-8 in 11-on-11s, but he still delivered the kind of snap that stands out in camp: a clean strike to Drake London on a crossing route for a big gain on fourth down.
The connection with London was the play of the day. Penix completed every pass he threw to either London or Kyle Pitts, and he also logged 14 snaps with the first-team offense, compared with 11 for Tua Tagovailoa. That lines up with what Kevin Stefanski said after Saturday’s preseason win, when he made it clear the reps would be split and Penix would be back in full contact.
For Penix, Monday was always going to be about easing back in after tearing his ACL in Week 11 against the Panthers in November. A little stiffness in his first full 11-on-11 work since then wasn’t surprising. What mattered more was that the arm talent still showed up when he needed it most.
And while Penix wasn’t sharp across the board, Tagovailoa didn’t seize the day either. He went 0-for-3 passing, not counting a DPI in the red zone, and also had a Bijan Robinson drop. With Penix now healthy and getting meaningful first-team work, Tagovailoa hasn’t been able to pull away in the competition.
That’s the part that matters most coming out of Monday: Penix is back in the fight, and he wasted no time making the kind of throw that keeps him there.
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Shane Steichen is giving Richardson one more chance to make his case, announcing that he will start the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions. For teams watching the quarterback market, including Atlanta, that kind of setup is exactly what can keep a rumor alive even when a deal never comes close to happening. The Colts still have decisions to make, and Richardsons next performance only adds another layer to a situation that already feels unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
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Banks has shown up around the quarterback with multiple hits and hurries, and that kind of activity can matter when roster spots and rotational roles are still up for grabs. With the Falcons looking for any edge they can find in a depleted pass-rush group, his play has made him a name worth tracking as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Make Sense In One Bears Trade Scenario
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Among them, Atlanta stands out as a sensible fit on paper, at least if the Falcons are looking to add help along the defensive front. The club has been linked to the wider pool of possible destinations that includes San Francisco, Tennessee, the Giants and Philadelphia, but the real intrigue is whether the Falcons are willing to join the conversation before Chicagos talks go any further. [Read more 🡒]