FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday he’s not ready to announce a starting quarterback for Sunday’s home opener against the Carolina Panthers, which means NFL journeyman Cooper Rush’s one-week hold on the job is in jeopardy.
And now Michael Penix Jr. may be close to reclaiming his role as the starter, especially considering Tua Tagovailoa was held out Wednesday after leaving practice last week with an oblique injury.
Rush started in Atlanta’s season-opening 20-13 road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend, when Penix and Tagovailoa were inactive. Undrafted rookie Jack Strand was the backup but did not play.
Rush threw two interceptions, including T.J. Watt’s 35-yard touchdown return in the fourth quarter, as he finished 12-of-22 passing for 143 yards and a touchdown.
Penix did not play in the preseason as he continues his recovery from a torn ligament in his left knee that ended his 2025 season. He was cleared for full team drills late in training camp, but Penis said he wanted to avoid rushing his return because this is his third major knee injury.
When asked after Wednesday’s practice if he feels ready to play, Penix answered: “I’m close. I know I’ve been saying that, but it’s just a couple technical things that I want to hit, some goals that I have that I want to achieve before I do stuff out on that field. But I do feel really good, and we’re taking strides each and every day.”
Sunday’s matchup at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the Panthers, the reigning NFC South champions, is the division opener for both teams. The Falcons visit the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 24 during the third week of the regular season, and Penix was asked if that Thursday night game might be a better target for his return.
“I didn’t say this week wasn’t realistic. I don’t know,” Penix said. “… No, whenever my knee feels good, I am going to be out there.”
His teammates are eager to see his return to game action.
“I know we’re ready to see Mike,” running back Bijan Robinson said Wednesday. “I know Mike’s ready for himself. Forget what we think. It’s him. I know he wants to play football. I pray for the guys every day, all the quarterbacks, but I know he wants to get out there and play because it’s been a long time since he’s been out there.”
Robinson said it is “a little bit of a challenge” to install a game plan without knowing who will start at quarterback.
Tagovailoa, a seventh-year pro who spent his first six seasons with the Miami Dolphins, was selected as the starting quarterback at the beginning of the Falcons’ practice week for the opener at Pittsburgh before suffering the oblique injury last Thursday. One day later, Tagovailoa was ruled out and Rush was selected as the starter.
Rush made the start despite having back spasms Saturday.
When asked Monday if he knows who will start at quarterback, Stefanski said: “Not yet. We’ll work through that this week.”
Atlanta’s first-year head coach acknowledged it’s not ideal to again face a possible late-week decision at quarterback.
“Of course, ideal world, I think everybody, every team, you’d love to know who’s playing at every position,” Stefanski said. “That’s a no-brainer. I get that part. But we’re going to be flexible and make sure that we’re giving all of our guys the ability to go play and play well. … It’s truly day to day.”
Penix also said last week he felt “really close” to being ready to play. The Falcons were 3-6 in his nine starts in 2025, his second season. The team was 1-2 in his three starts in his rookie season after he was the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
With Rush behind center, the Falcons had a conservative passing game at Acrisure Stadium. The majority of his passes were short attempts, and Robinson turned one into a 23-yard touchdown catch against the Steelers.
Robinson had 21 carries for 83 yards and eight receptions for 90 yards, leading to questions about whether he could continue to handle such a heavy workload.
Stefanski said Wednesday that Tagovailoa was “getting better” and added he is not ruling out any of the four quarterbacks this week.
When asked if Penix has said he feels ready to make his 2026 debut, Stefanski said: “I feel really good about the plan and where we are. I’m not going to get into specific conversations with our players, but Mike’s progressing and doing a good job.”
Meanwhile, offensive right guard Chris Lindstrom (concussion protocol) and cornerback A.J. Terrell (shoulder) did not practice. With defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand (quad) added to the reserve/injured list, the Falcons signed tight end Nick Muse to the active squad from the practice squad and signed defensive end Drake Jackson and running back Khalil Herbert to the practice squad.