Penix cleared for team drills, setting stage for QB competition

Tagovailoa's teammate, Michael Penix (knee), is in line to return to 11-on-11 drills in Monday's practice, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.

Penix had been participating in practice since training camp began but hadn't yet been cleared for contact or full-team work. However, coach Kevin Stefanski relayed Saturday that the QB has been given the green light to practice without restrictions. With one preseason game remaining, the Falcons have yet to settle on a starting quarterback, and Penix's looming return to team drills sets the stage for him to have an opportunity to compete with Tagovailoa on equal footing ahead of Week 1. It remains to be seen what the team's plans are for the two signal callers in Friday's exhibition finale against the Dolphins, and at this stage Stefanski hasn't outlined a timeline for when he'll make a call on his starter for Atlanta's Sept. 13 contest against the Steelers.