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By Matthew Davis
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While Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is making throws at training camp, he isn't all the way back.
Penix has been recovering from an ACL tear last season, and it will take time for him to be clear for 11-on-11 drills at camp. That said, Penix is well aware of his limits and precautions as he gets back on the field with his teammates.
"To be honest, I've been feeling really good," Penix told reporters on Wednesday. "I feel like I can do everything, but I have to still be smart about it. I can't afford to have somebody trip and fall and land on me right now."
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For Penix, he knows the drill since this marked the third ACL tear of his career between college at Indiana and Washington and now the NFL. His injury history was a concern coming out of Washington, but the Falcons took a chance on Penix with the No. 8 pick in 2024.
It paid off early as Penix impressed at times as a rookie in five games played with 775 yards passing for three touchdowns versus three interceptions. Atlanta handed him the starting job in place of former quarterback Kirk Cousins in 2025, and Penix improved.
In nine games, Penix completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,982 yards and nine touchdowns versus three picks before the injury. The Falcons added some starting quarterback insurance this offseason by signing Tua Tagovailoa, a former six-year starter with the Miami Dolphins.
Unfortunately, Tagovailoa also has an injury history, and he hurt his back going into training camp. That leaves Cooper Rush as the only fully healthy quarterback after he just signed with the team at the outset of camp.
For now, Penix will keep working toward full medical clearance. He said doctors told him four weeks, but the timing hinges on his body's response.
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