Falcons frustrations: Three QBs down, Bijan Robinson sitting out and a hole at tackle

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — There’s no succinct way to wrap up all the body blows the Atlanta Falcons absorbed on their first day of training camp Wednesday, so maybe a ranking of their potential damage is the best approach.

Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. revealed it could be a month before he is cleared for 11-on-11 practice work, which all but eliminates his chances of winning the starting quarterback job for Week 1.

However, free-agent quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is missing a chance to put distance between himself and Penix this week because he will miss several practices due to an injury that coach Kevin Stefanski said “flared up” in recent days. Tagovailoa could be back as early as the end of this week, a team source who was granted anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about team injuries told The Athletic, but next week appears more likely.

Third-string quarterback Trevor Siemian would have stepped into the first-team role for Wednesday’s opening practice, but Siemian was released before practice due to a non-football injury. That left undrafted rookie Jack Strand, 22, as the starter in the Falcons’ full team work. Atlanta also signed veteran quarterback Cooper Rush on Wednesday.

The issues weren’t confined to the quarterback room either. Running back Bijan Robinson did not practice, and the team source said it was due to a contract-related issue. The Falcons and Robinson have been discussing a second contract this offseason, and the deal still is more likely than not to get done, but his absence wasn’t a positive note.

Neither was the announcement that Jawaan Taylor, the presumptive starter at right tackle after signing with the team in free agency, was placed on the physically unable to perform list along with cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. and linebackers Troy Andersen and DeAngelo Malone.

Stefanski pronounced himself “not fazed” despite the blizzard of bad news.

“It’s the NFL, brother,” he said. “I tell the coaches every year, there is stuff coming every year that you can’t predict. You have to trust in the people around you and understand that’s just how it goes.”

The Penix news has the most potential for a long-term impact. The No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft met with his surgeon last week and was informed his return to full duty would have to wait longer than he hoped.

“I was told another four weeks possibly before going into that next stage, but it could be earlier,” Penix said. “I’m just trusting him, and all he can go off is what he sees. Whatever he saw, that was the decision he made. But he did say I am further along than he expected me to be, so I’m in a great spot.”

If Penix misses another four weeks, he wouldn’t be cleared until 17 days before the Sept. 13 season opener in Pittsburgh. He has suffered five season-ending injuries in his football career, including two previous ACL tears in his right knee. This injury, which is in his left knee, was suffered on Nov. 16 last year.

“My last two, I was probably cleared by now. But obviously this is my third ACL. We’re not taking this one lightly,” he said. “We have to make sure we take all the right steps so that when I come back I’m right where I want to be. The last thing I want to do is get out there and not be able to give my team 100 percent.”

Penix said he feels good physically, and he participated in individual drills and seven-on-seven work Wednesday.

“I feel like I can do everything, but at the same time, I have to still be smart about it,” he said. “I can’t afford to have somebody trip and fall and land on me right now.”

Stefanski is not discouraged by Penix’s update, he said.

“He’s hitting every single checkpoint,” the coach said. “I’m very, very confident in the plan. All along, we have put total trust into Mike and the medical team and his doctor performing surgery. So I’m very, very comfortable with where we are and the plan that we have. Also, I know Mike, and he has the absolute right attitude, which is he can keep grinding on every single day and get better every single night.”

Rush, 32, joins the Falcons after an eight-year career that included 14 starts in seven years with the Cowboys and two starts last year with the Ravens. He was working out near his home in Dallas on Tuesday when his agent called to tell him the Falcons wanted him to work out. After arriving in Atlanta late Tuesday night, he worked out for team officials before 7 a.m. on Wednesday and was signed before practice began at 9:30 a.m.

“It’s been fun,” he said. “A little tired, I’m still on Central time a little bit.”

Wide receiver Jahan Dotson said he met Rush for the first time in a practice huddle. Right guard Chris Lindstrom still hadn’t spoken to the quarterback immediately after practice.

“It’s a next-man-up league,” Dotson said. “It was pretty cool to see Cooper come in here today and get reps with us in practice.”

The Falcons could sign another quarterback this week, Stefanski indicated. Tagovailoa, who came to Atlanta from Miami in the offseason, will return “sooner than later,” the coach said, but the veteran will begin his NFL-mandated acclimatization period when he does return, which could delay his ability to participate in full-contact work.

When Robinson will return to the practice field is unknown. He is represented by Nicole Lynn of Klutch Sports Group, but messages to his representatives were not immediately returned. Robinson has an NFL-high 5,648 yards from scrimmage over the last three seasons. Last year, he led the league with 2,298 yards overall.

Backup running back Brian Robinson replaced Bijan Robinson with the first team during 11-on-11 work, but in the spirit of Atlanta’s day, he appeared to be injured while running a pass route. Brian Robinson fell and stayed on the ground while being attended to by a trainer. He remained on the sideline but was not seen participating any further.

Among the players placed on the PUP list, Taylor was the most notable. The veteran joined Atlanta in March but has yet to practice due to a lower-body injury. Players placed on the PUP list during training camp can be activated at any time.

Taylor “is doing well, getting better,” Stefanski said. “I feel confident in all those guys — they are all really progressing well. Every coach wants every player for every rep. That’s ideal, but it’s not the reality. This is good for us as players and coaches. This is the NFL. You have to adjust. That’s nothing new to football. We embrace that part of football because we know it’s coming.”