Open Extended Reactions
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will not play Friday for the Atlanta Falcons in their preseason finale, head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday.
No decision has been made on the team's Week 1 starter at the position, Stefanski also said.
Tua Tagovailoa will start Friday at his former team, the Miami Dolphins. Cooper Rush and Jack Strand will get reps afterward, Stefanski said.
Penix just returned to full practices Monday. Previously, he had not been cleared for 11-on-11 team periods after surgery to repair a torn ACL last November. Penix said Wednesday that he is in favor of not playing yet, but did say he would be healthy to start Week 1.
"I just got cleared," Penix said. "Let me get my feet wet a little bit."
Stefanski said he's not sure when he'll name a Week 1 starter at quarterback, though that decision will likely come "whenever they tell me I have to."
"Honestly, not trying to be coy, just we'll focus on what's available to us, what information's available to us," Stefanski said. "Obviously, this has been something that we need to work through as people come back off of injury and then Tua is injured (back) to start camp and then Mike’s been injured, not doing the 11-on-11s.
"So, every day you're just trying to make decisions based on who's available to you. The good news is [we're] very, very happy with our guys and the progress they've all made."
