The Falcoholic
The Falcons are wrapping up their OTAs (Organized Team Activities) this week as we get closer to the summer dead zone before training camp. Atlanta had some notable news and injury updates from the first few days, and we’ve got a summary for you right here.
The biggest story of the summer thus far has been the return of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to practice in a limited capacity. Penix has been taking part in throwing drills and 7-on-7s, but hasn’t yet progressed to 11-on-11 work. That could be coming to an end soon, however, as head coach Kevin Stefanski says it’s a possibility that Penix could take part in full team sessions as early as next week at mandatory minicamp.
Now, “we’ll see” is far from a certainty, but it sounds like Penix’s return is on the horizon. It seems as though a return to full activity is absolutely possible for the start of training camp, at the very least.
The Falcons are also awaiting the return of cornerback Billy Bowman Jr., who tore his Achilles during the 2025 season. Bowman is progressing well, per Stefanski, but is not yet cleared for practice. The hope is that Bowman can return for training camp, at least in some capacity. It also wouldn’t be surprising to see Bowman begin camp on PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) just in case his rehab is slower than expected.
Falcons rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels was spotted wearing a walking boot during initial workouts, but has progressed quickly from that injury. He’s been doing rehab and working off to the side, including work on the stationary bike. It seems like his return to the practice field will be very soon, potentially even next week for mandatory minicamp. But again, there’s no real reason for Atlanta to rush anyone back at this point, and a training camp debut is the most likely debut for Daniels.
Fans and analysts have spent quite a lot of energy arguing over who will win Atlanta’s inevitable quarterback battle between veteran Tua Tagovailoa and third-year Michael Penix Jr. A common refrain is that Tua is bound to win the battle, because he’s currently participating in 11-on-11s and Penix is not. While that’s obviously an advantage in terms of chemistry and proving yourself to the new staff, my personal opinion is that it’s a minor one at best. The true competition was always going to take place in training camp, with summer workouts only a small piece of the puzzle.
The Falcons clearly agree with that sentiment, as Atlanta’s quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt made clear to ESPN’s Marc Raimondi. Van Pelt noted that it’s “tough to have a competition when both guys aren’t competing,” suggesting that the team isn’t using OTAs (and perhaps minicamp) as a major part of their quarterback evaluation. Van Pelt praised Penix’s rehab and...
