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The Atlanta Falcons wrapped up their minicamp last week and are off for a full month before training camp begins in late July. That's good news for quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who's doing his best to keep pace with Tua Tagovailoa in the battle for the Falcons QB1 job.
Penix was back throwing at the team's practice facility earlier than expected following his ACL surgery, but he still hasn't been cleared for contact. This allowed Tagovailoa to take the 11-on-11 reps at minicamp last week, and gave him a leg up in the quarterback competition before the team went on break.
However, Penix expects to be cleared by the time the players report for training camp on July 24 (rookies) and July 28 (veterans). The Falcons have been adamant that the QB competition can't start until both players are fully healthy, but patience doesn't exist in a 24-hour news cycle.
Here's a look at what NFL analysts are saying about Atlanta's quarterbacks now that minicamp has concluded.
"While Michael Penix Jr. has made good strides in his recovery from last year's ACL injury, he has yet to be cleared for 11-on-11 action," wrote McFadden. "Until Penix participates in every aspect of practice, it's difficult to compare his performance with Tua Tagovailoa, who has been working with the starters in full-team periods. Penix is hopeful he will be cleared for 11-on-11 work by the start of training camp, but that decision is ultimately up to his medical team. Until he's able to get the all-clear, Atlanta's quarterback competition is in stasis."
"Now, one thing that helps Tua - I was told that in Kevin Stefanski's offense, the most important thing that he values is accuracy," said Fowler. "When I asked a team source what has Tua done this spring, I was told that he's been really accurate. So that does help his cause. But Penix, they have not given up on him either. This could be a situation where he could ease his way back in. Maybe Tua is a bit of a stopgap option for them. They could go multiple ways here."
"Penix has been limited this offseason," wrote Edholm. "He has done 7-on-7 work. It's not nothing. If Penix had been stuck on the stationary bike during these June sessions, I'd be more concerned. Stefanski said that Penix is exactly where he needs to be at this stage. But consider me a little worried about his ability to get cleared, stay healthy and beat out Tagovailoa for the Week 1 starting job. Penix figures to play at some point -- Tua has only started a full season once in six years -- but winning the job from the outset feels like more of a reach to me right now."
"To ask if Tagovailoa's 2025 season was a blip or a trend, we have to first wonder how much of his previous offensive success was a blip itself," wrote Solak. "Tagovailoa's efficiency shot through the ceiling in 2022 under McDaniel, who had sculpted a perfect offense to highlight his strengths -- the quick release, the willingness to throw accurate balls into tight coverage -- and conceal his weaknesses. But that was a blip. It's hard to sustain an explosive passing game when the quarterback lacks strong downfield accuracy given modest arm strength."
"Penix's injury has sort of clouded this looming competition, but Tagovailoa has taken advantage early," wrote Sullivan. "With Penix still limited to 7-on-7s, Tagovailoa has thrived in team drills, with ESPN noting that he arguably had his best day of the spring on Wednesday. During 11-on-11s in the red zone, Tagovailoa completed all three of his passes, which included a touchdown to Bijan Robinson. Even if Penix is cleared to be a full go to begin training camp, Tagovailoa has laid a foundation to be the first quarterback up during reps, and I wonder if he'll ever let go of the rope from here on out."
"Tua Tagovailoa to the Falcons is a good fit," Samuel wrote on his social media account. "The Atlanta Falcons are a team to look out for this season. Don’t be surprised if the Falcons win the NFC South."
"I just think Michael Penix is super talented," White told 680 The Fan on his QB preference. "I mean, when I go out to practice and I watch him throw the ball, he can make every throw around the field. I think, you know, with Kevin [Stefanski] coming in, the windows and the pictures are going to be much more open."
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons QB competition: What NFL analysts are saying
Continue reading...
Penix was back throwing at the team's practice facility earlier than expected following his ACL surgery, but he still hasn't been cleared for contact. This allowed Tagovailoa to take the 11-on-11 reps at minicamp last week, and gave him a leg up in the quarterback competition before the team went on break.
However, Penix expects to be cleared by the time the players report for training camp on July 24 (rookies) and July 28 (veterans). The Falcons have been adamant that the QB competition can't start until both players are fully healthy, but patience doesn't exist in a 24-hour news cycle.
Here's a look at what NFL analysts are saying about Atlanta's quarterbacks now that minicamp has concluded.
Falcons team reporter Will McFadden on QB battle
"While Michael Penix Jr. has made good strides in his recovery from last year's ACL injury, he has yet to be cleared for 11-on-11 action," wrote McFadden. "Until Penix participates in every aspect of practice, it's difficult to compare his performance with Tua Tagovailoa, who has been working with the starters in full-team periods. Penix is hopeful he will be cleared for 11-on-11 work by the start of training camp, but that decision is ultimately up to his medical team. Until he's able to get the all-clear, Atlanta's quarterback competition is in stasis."
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Falcons QBs, Tua's accuracy
"Now, one thing that helps Tua - I was told that in Kevin Stefanski's offense, the most important thing that he values is accuracy," said Fowler. "When I asked a team source what has Tua done this spring, I was told that he's been really accurate. So that does help his cause. But Penix, they have not given up on him either. This could be a situation where he could ease his way back in. Maybe Tua is a bit of a stopgap option for them. They could go multiple ways here."
NFL.com's Eric Edholm on Falcons QB battle
"Penix has been limited this offseason," wrote Edholm. "He has done 7-on-7 work. It's not nothing. If Penix had been stuck on the stationary bike during these June sessions, I'd be more concerned. Stefanski said that Penix is exactly where he needs to be at this stage. But consider me a little worried about his ability to get cleared, stay healthy and beat out Tagovailoa for the Week 1 starting job. Penix figures to play at some point -- Tua has only started a full season once in six years -- but winning the job from the outset feels like more of a reach to me right now."
ESPN's Ben Solak sees Tagovailoa's struggles as trend
"To ask if Tagovailoa's 2025 season was a blip or a trend, we have to first wonder how much of his previous offensive success was a blip itself," wrote Solak. "Tagovailoa's efficiency shot through the ceiling in 2022 under McDaniel, who had sculpted a perfect offense to highlight his strengths -- the quick release, the willingness to throw accurate balls into tight coverage -- and conceal his weaknesses. But that was a blip. It's hard to sustain an explosive passing game when the quarterback lacks strong downfield accuracy given modest arm strength."
CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan on Falcons QB battle
"Penix's injury has sort of clouded this looming competition, but Tagovailoa has taken advantage early," wrote Sullivan. "With Penix still limited to 7-on-7s, Tagovailoa has thrived in team drills, with ESPN noting that he arguably had his best day of the spring on Wednesday. During 11-on-11s in the red zone, Tagovailoa completed all three of his passes, which included a touchdown to Bijan Robinson. Even if Penix is cleared to be a full go to begin training camp, Tagovailoa has laid a foundation to be the first quarterback up during reps, and I wonder if he'll ever let go of the rope from here on out."
Former Falcons CB Asante Samuel on Team Tua
"Tua Tagovailoa to the Falcons is a good fit," Samuel wrote on his social media account. "The Atlanta Falcons are a team to look out for this season. Don’t be surprised if the Falcons win the NFC South."
Former Falcons WR Roddy White on Team Penix
"I just think Michael Penix is super talented," White told 680 The Fan on his QB preference. "I mean, when I go out to practice and I watch him throw the ball, he can make every throw around the field. I think, you know, with Kevin [Stefanski] coming in, the windows and the pictures are going to be much more open."
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons QB competition: What NFL analysts are saying
Continue reading...
