Stefanski: No timetable to name starting QB

This has been sort of the working assumption for a while as Tagovailoa is taking first-team reps while Michael Penix hasn’t been cleared for full-contact work yet. Tagovalioa remained limited with a back injury today in camp, but obviously if there’s no healthy Penix, there can be no competition.

Friday marked the first time Tagovailoa has had a chance to speak publicly with the media since training camp began. He hasn’t had a chance to practice in full with the team since camp opened, and said he isn’t sure when he will be a full participant, but also added that if this were a game week, he would likely be able to play. Tagovailoa has been sidelined since the start of camp with what has been reported as a “tight back” that flared up last week. It’s an issue he has never had to deal with before, per Tagovailoa, who said he believes the decision to sideline him early on is “just a precaution thing.” Tagovailoa’s quotes on Friday sound like those of a player who should be on the field sooner rather than later, but we’ll continue to provide updates on this situation until he is back in full capacity.

Tagovailoa has now been on the field in some capacity in back-to-back days, but he’s still not participating in team drills. Tagovailoa was sidelined to start practice this week due to a “tight back,” but the team hasn’t suggested this is anything to be concerned about. Hopefully these last two days are signs that Tagovailoa is trending toward a return in the near future. Until then, rookie UDFA Jack Strand will continue to work with the first-team offense.

Tua threw passes off to the side during individual reps but did not participate in team drills. He missed Wednesday’s session entirely with a “tight back,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Head coach Kevin Stefanski described it as a “flare up” but didn’t get into the specifics. A limited practice today is a step in the right direction, especially with Michael Penix still sidelined. Tua remains the heavy favorite for the starting job in Week 1. Undrafted rookie QB Jack Strand took reps with the first-team offense in Tagovailoa’s stead.

Recovering his his 2025 knee injury, Penix was seen Wednesday practicing in seven-on-seven drills but told local media that it would be another “another four weeks, probably, before going to the next stage.” Penix added “it could be earlier.” “It really just depends on how my body is going throughout this whole camp process,” he said. It sounds like Penix won’t be available for Week 1, and could miss the season’s first few games, depending on how he progresses through the final stages of his ACL rehab process. That leaves Tua Tagovailoa, who is sidelined with a back injury, as the presumed Week 1 starter for Atlanta. Cooper Rush, who signed with the team on Wednesday, would likely be the emergency starter if both Tagovailoa and Penix are out. It’s a potentially catastrophic situation for Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and the rest of the Atlanta pass catchers.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter, meanwhile, reports Tua will miss time with a “tight back.” Stefanski said Tua, who is widely expected to be under center for Atlanta to start the regular season, will be back in action “sooner rather than later.” Schefter said Tua could return as early as next week. The Falcons signed veteran journeyman Cooper Rush after news of the Tagovailoa injury. Michael Penix, meanwhile, is expected to participate in seven-on-seven camp drills this week while he recovers from his 2025 knee injury. Tagovailoa’s status will be worth monitoring in the coming weeks.

In his Falcons summer mailbag article, Kendall was asked to give his opinion on who he believes will start the season opener for the Falcons. While he was quick to say “I sincerely don’t know,” before pointing out Tagovailoa and Michael Penix are engaged in “a legitimate competition,” Kendall said he ultimately believes Tagovailoa will be the Week 1 starter. While some of this hinges on the health of Penix’s knee, Kendall also added that head coach Kevin Stefanski values accuracy, which he believes will give Tagovailoa the inside edge. It’s a hard point to argue against, as Penix has completed just 59.6 percent of his passes for his career, while Tagovailoa, in his worst season, completed 64.1 percent of his passes. Kendall said he believes we will ultimately see both quarterbacks play this season, due in part to Tagovailoa’s health but also because the Falcons need to get a look at what Penix, a former No. 8 overall pick, can offer the franchise long term as he enters his third season. The health of Penix could go a long way in deciding this QB competition, but this is likely to be a messy QB situation for much of the season, regardless of who is under center. Fantasy managers drafting in 2QB/Superflex leagues should likely look to Tagovailoa if they’re in need of a second starter early in the season.

The “we’ll see” from Stefanski yesterday wound up being “no.” In other words, Falcons mandatory minicamp will be the Tua Tagovailoa show. Penix is a more realistic candidate to be ready to go in training camp. However, ceding these reps to Tagovailoa will probably put the veteran quarterback in the lead of their upcoming battle heading into camp. It feels likely that both quarterbacks will get a shot at some point, barring Tagovailoa turning back the clock a few years.

Penix participated in the Falcons’ OTAs last month and was splitting first-team reps with Tua Tagovailoa, but the third-year quarterback has not yet been cleared for 11-on-11 sessions. With the Falcons starting minicamp this week, we’ll soon have an answer on whether or not he’ll be cleared or be forced to wait until training camp to try and return to the field. Penix is nearly seven months removed from surgery to repair the partially torn ACL he suffered in Week 11 of last season, so it wouldn’t be surprising doctors said it was too early for him to return for 11-on-11’s. If he’s unable to go, Tagovailoa would get all of the reps with the first team offense, which could position him well ahead of the QB battle that’s expected to take place in training camp if Penix is healthy.

Stefanski went on to explain that he believes accuracy is “the most important trait at the position,” after referring to Tagovailoa’s accuracy as being “God-given.” Stefanski then quickly added that “all” of the Falcons quarterbacks have this innate trait, but it was easy to see that his focus was on the former Dolphins quarterback. Tagovailoa’s downfield passing showed signs of decline last season, but he has evidently earned a public compliment from his new head coach. The battle for the Falcons’ starting job between Tagovailoa and QB Michael Penix continues.