The NFC South is shaping up with a few moving parts at quarterback, and the latest updates from Atlanta, Carolina and New Orleans all point in different directions.
In Atlanta, Michael Penix Jr. is still a ways from getting a real shot to push for the starting job. He’s not expected to be cleared from his ACL injury for 11-on-11 work until the end of August, which makes a Week 1 run at the job a tough climb. Penix isn’t forcing the issue, though.
“Everybody wants to be in that [starting] role,” Penix said via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “But at the same time, you have to work for it.
Tua came in and he’s been great. It’s all a process right now.
I have to focus on getting back on the field. The whole starter thing, that comes later.”
Fowler also reported that the Falcons are preparing for OLB James Pearce Jr. to be suspended, though they do not know how long it will last. Atlanta has already looked around the free-agent market for pass rush help to add to the room.
Carolina, meanwhile, has made a notable adjustment on offense. After a playoff season last year, head coach Dave Canales has handed over play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik. It’s a shift on paper, but not a dramatic one in practice, since both coaches arrived from Tampa Bay at the same time and already share the same approach.
Bryce Young said the two coaches are essentially operating as one unit.
“It’s obviously different people, but it’s the same process,” Young said via Kassidy Hill of the team website. “They work hand in hand.
They’ve always had a close relationship. Brad’s always been in there with us in QB meetings, and he’s always, obviously, been on and understood everything, so it’s really similar.
It’s a seamless process.”
“He was doing a lot behind the scenes last year that the outside world probably didn’t see, but us, as a building, we obviously felt. So, they’re one and the same; they work together. There’s obviously going to be a lot of communication there, so we’re excited for the next steps.”
Canales said the change has opened the door for him to spread his attention around the roster instead of being locked into the offense at all times.
“It was great just bouncing around,” Canales said. “I got a group of guys that I certainly have my eye on.
I won’t share that, but I just come, trying to task myself with making sure that I can affect not just the coaching staff but a couple of players that I really want to challenge to take steps and take strides. And so, going into each practice with that mindset, I feel I can really sharpen my focus on a couple of guys and then be able to see the whole thing.”
In New Orleans, Spencer Rattler is staying in the moment even after last season seemed to move him down the depth chart. He started the first half of the year, but the Saints were 1-7 when he was replaced by Tyler Shough. The rookie gave the team a lift and helped New Orleans finish 5-4, which appeared to close the door on Rattler as the starter.
Rattler still has two years left on his rookie deal and is battling Zach Wilson for the backup job, but he said he’s not looking beyond the task in front of him.
“You know, hey, look, I’m just focused on my job right now here,” Rattler said via USA Today’s Dylan Sanders. “Obviously, you know, this is a great situation here.
We’ve got a great young team, a great young quarterback room. We’re all still growing, all still in the same area of our career.
You know, whatever I can do to help this team elevate, that’s my job right now.”
He also said the competition in the quarterback room has stayed healthy, even with all three younger passers pushing each other.
“In the QB room, it’s always gonna be, you know, you gotta be there for each other… I think we all do a good job of building together, competing versus each other. You know, he throws a good ball, I want to match it. I throw a good ball, he wants to match it,” Rattler said.
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