Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Michael Penix Jr. both worked with the starting receivers during the routes-on-air period of Thursday’s practice, according to ESPN beat writer Marc Raimondi.
The observation came during the media viewing window and adds another layer to one of the most unsettled quarterback situations in the NFL heading into Week 2.
What Happened at Practice
Rush and Penix both took snaps throwing to the first-team receivers in the individual routes-on-air drill. Tua Tagovailoa was not present with the quarterbacks. Multiple reporters on site noted the same order in warm-up work: Rush, then Penix, then undrafted rookie Jack Strand.
Rush later confirmed the pair split first-team reps earlier in the week as well. “We were both out there, me and Mike,” he said. “It was good work.”
Penix, listed as a full participant, has said he is close but still working through specific physical checkpoints after last season’s torn ACL. “Mentally, I want to go play, but I am not going to go out there if I’m not where I need to be physically,” he told reporters.
How Atlanta Got Here
The Falcons entered the season hoping Tagovailoa would start while Penix finished his recovery. Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury and was inactive for the Week 1 loss at Pittsburgh. Rush started that game, completing 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in a 20-13 defeat. He has also been dealing with back spasms.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski has refused to name a starter for Sunday’s home opener against the Carolina Panthers. “I’m not ruling anybody out,” he said. “We will have a quarterback, yes, for this week.” That group includes Tagovailoa, Penix, Rush, and even Strand.
What It Means for Sunday
The fact that both Rush and Penix are getting starter-level work suggests the staff is keeping options open rather than locking in one quarterback. Reporting around the team indicates the preference remains to start Penix once he is fully comfortable, given he is viewed as the longer-term answer.
Whether that happens this week is still unclear. Penix practiced fully last week as well and still sat for Week 1. Tagovailoa’s availability remains in question after missing Wednesday’s session.
For now, Thursday’s drill simply confirmed what has been true all week: the Falcons are preparing more than one quarterback to play with the starters, and the decision will likely wait until later in the week.