Michael Penix Jr. expects medical clearance for Falcons camp

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said he expects to be fully cleared for training camp next month as he continues his return from a torn ACL.

Penix is coming off an injury that ended his 2025 season in Week 11, and he indicated the final decision will depend on his doctor’s evaluation before camp opens. During spring organized team activities, he has taken part in on-field work but has not been cleared for 11-on-11 drills.

Training camp is set to be the point when that restriction could be lifted.

The quarterback said he feels he is where he needs to be at this stage of the offseason calendar and is looking forward to taking the final step back to full participation once camp begins. He added that the next checkpoint is a pre-camp visit with his doctor, which will determine whether he can progress to full-team periods.

Until then, the team has kept his workload short of competitive, game-simulated reps. That approach is consistent with late-stage rehab plans that prioritize controlled movement before reintroducing contact and full-speed reads.

Penix’s return carries extra weight because his full practice availability will help shape Atlanta’s quarterback competition. With training camp approaching, the Falcons are expected to increase evaluation periods that can’t be replicated in spring work, including more extensive 11-on-11 sessions.

Those reps typically drive how coaches compare quarterbacks in decision-making, timing and command of the offense. For Penix, getting cleared would allow him to be assessed in those settings after months of rehabilitation.

Competition for the starting job

The most significant football consequence of Penix’s clearance is that it would open the door to the “spirited” portion of his competition with Tua Tagovailoa for the starting role. With both quarterbacks in the mix, camp practices are expected to provide the most direct comparisons, because the offense can be run at closer to regular-season pace. The Falcons’ staff will be looking for consistency in full-team periods and situational work once those sessions begin.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski has also stressed that the June offseason program will not decide any jobs. Stefanski’s message is that roles remain open heading into July, keeping the focus on how players perform when the schedule becomes more demanding. In that framework, Penix’s ability to participate fully becomes a practical requirement for a fair contest at the position. If he remains limited, the competition would be evaluated with incomplete practice evidence.

What the medical timeline means for Atlanta

The final step is a medical assessment scheduled before the start of camp. If Penix is cleared, the coaching staff can move from controlled rehab-based participation to a more normal workload that includes the quarterback-to-receiver timing work and full-unit execution that define training camp. If he is not cleared, the Falcons would likely continue to manage his reps, which could affect how quickly the depth chart conversation moves from offseason projection to on-field confirmation.

Atlanta’s next on-field checkpoint will come when camp opens, when Penix’s clearance status will determine whether he can take full-team snaps and intensify the competition at quarterback.