The quarterback has been grinding through drills, seven-on-seven work, and mental reps during joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts this week in Westfield, Indiana — familiar territory for the former Indiana University star.
The trip carried personal weight for Penix. He played his college ball roughly 90 miles from Westfield, where many in central Indiana once saw him as the quarterback who would revive Indiana football before injuries derailed both his career and the Hoosiers’ ascent.
Rehab Roadmap Takes Shape
This latest ACL tear — the first in his left knee — cost Penix the final five games of last season, his first as Atlanta’s full-time starter. Now he’s methodically working back while awaiting medical guidance.
“I’ve got to talk to my doctor, and I know that call will be coming up soon,” Penix said. “I’ve got to talk to my doctor to see where he thinks I am and see how he feels about everything. Then we’ll go from there.”
Penix has maintained perspective despite the limited reps during his ACL rehab.
“It’s not frustrating,” he said. “Obviously, I don’t get a lot of reps so I want to take advantage of every rep I get. Today, I ended on a bad play, I ended on a pick. So for me, it’s like now I’ve got to sit here the rest of practice and think that was my last play. But at the same time, it’s good to be able to go out there and compete.”
Falcons QB Room Reshaped Around Penix
While Michael Penix Jr. rehabs, the Atlanta Falcons have overhauled their quarterback room. The team signed Tua Tagovailoa following his release from the Miami Dolphins, added undrafted rookie Jack Strand, and brought in veteran Cooper Rush last month.
Tagovailoa has struggled in camp, including the past two days. His Thursday workout ended with four consecutive errant throws during a two-minute drill.
“You’ve got to be where you are right now and learn from what happened in practice,” Tagovailoa said. “We’ll take the good as well as the bad. We’ll move forward and continue to play that way.”
Colts Quarterback Competition Takes Stage
The joint practices also showcased Indianapolis’s own quarterback competition. Daniel Jones, cleared without limitations after a broken leg and torn Achilles last season, has taken all normal snaps in team drills and looked sharp.
“I feel good, I feel good moving around,” Jones said. “I think with any major rehab process, you’re always kind of progressing and getting back and getting used to doing everything, building up the reps on it, building your conditioning level.”
Anthony Richardson, battling to remain the Colts’ No. 2 quarterback, went 11 of 14 for 145 yards in the first preseason game but threw an interception and lost a fumble. The Colts expect second-year quarterback Riley Leonard to start Saturday’s preseason game against the Falcons.
The practices marked the end of a nine-year run in Westfield. The Colts plan to hold next summer’s training camp at team headquarters.
What Happens Next
Michael Penix Jr.’s upcoming doctor consultation will chart the next phase of his ACL rehab and shape the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback depth chart entering the regular season. If cleared, he could accelerate his return to full practice. If not, the spotlight intensifies on Tua Tagovailoa, whose camp struggles raise legitimate questions about whether he can stabilize the position.
The Falcons and Colts meet Saturday in preseason action, where the quarterback competition for both franchises comes into sharper focus.
— James Okafor, sports desk, AXO News