The Atlanta Falcons are a few weeks away from kicking off the 2026 NFL regular season, but their quarterback competition is only just getting started. The team officially took the training wheels off Michael Penix Jr. and allowed him to participate in 11-on-11 drills on Monday for the first time since last season.
In today's Falcons Wire Recap, Penix returns to looking to snatch the QB1 job, rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels earns an elite PFF grade, Kevin Stefanski gets the team locked in for the final preseason game, and the Jack Strand hype train rolls on.
Penix returns, wows crowd with laser to LondonFalcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said Penix will split reps with Tua Tagovailoa for the rest of camp but did not know if he would play in the preseason finale. The third-year QB made his much-anticipated return to 11-on-11 action on Monday and it didn't take long for him to show off his trademark arm talent.
Penix drew cheers from those in attendance with a beautiful throw to Drake London. Penix completed 4-of-8 passes in 11-on-11s and made a few really nice throws. While he has frequently been criticized for his accuracy, that is more so due to his completion percentage rather than his actual ball placement. Watch as the third-year QB threads the needle to London over both Divine Deablo and A.J. Terrell at Monday's practice.
9 to 5 🔥 pic.twitter.com/67R6STj3bW
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 24, 2026Jack Strand hype train rolls onThe Falcons have lucked into a potential undrafted gem in Jack Strand. The rookie went off in Friday's preseason win for 212 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing score). Once considered a long-shot to make the roster, Strand is now getting a ton of hype from fans and local radio stations.
Stefanski was asked if Strand was realistically in the mix for the starting quarterback job, and he didn't rule it out. Read his full response below.
"Yeah, I think with all of our guys, everyone prepares to be the starter," answered Stefanski. "Now, having said that, obviously we work with our young guys and we want to make sure that we put all of them, Jack included, through a process and make sure that they are getting the proper things down when it comes to understanding systems, understanding defense or what have you so he's doing everything we're asking him to do, but we're not going to put those types of things out there for our guys to worry about. He's got to keep his focus on the day to day."
Falcons head coach confirms Jack Strand is competing for QB1 job
📸 Dale Zanine, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect https://t.co/tpiLpwx7uqpic.twitter.com/g5jC2rKUTX
Falcons fourth-round pick Kendal Daniels has been ascending over the last few weeks as he competes for the other starting linebacker job next to Divine Deablo. Daniels earned an elite Pro Football Focus grade in Friday's preseason blowout against the Colts. The rookie earned a PFF grade of 90.1, which was the team's third-highest overall score.
Unfortunately, Daniels was outdone by his primary competition for a starting job. Linebacker Christian Harris earned a 90.8 to lead all defensive players in the game. Check out the top five defensive grades from Saturday's preseason matchup.
- LB Christian Harris: 90.8
- LB Kendal Daniels: 90.1
- LB Channing Tindall: 83.6
- DB Jammie Robinson: 79.2
- DB Natrone Brooks: 74.8
Incoming: @KendalDaniels__ 😤
FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/gmRzRq71Xl
NFL analyst Thor Nystrom claimed one of Jack Strand's college coaches told him that if the Dragons QB had accepted one of his NIL offers, he could have been one of the top-3 quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Not wanting to leave his college teammates behind, though, Strand reportedly chose to stay in Minnesota.
"A coach on the MSU-Moorhead staff told me in the spring that Strand may have been a top-3 drafted QB if he’d taken NIL offers to jump up his last season," Nystrom wrote on Twitter. "Strand wanted to finish it out with his teammates. As scouts say, if you’re talented, they’ll find you."
Jack Strand might not have gone undrafted had he accepted NIL deal
📸 Robert Goddin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect https://t.co/JwT0h94u4ipic.twitter.com/c6gwZRfECM
Former Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot is taking his talents to New York, but not to work for the Giants or the Jets. Fontenot posted an update on his Instagram account saying he's headed to the "Big Apple" after accepting a job in the NFL's corporate office.
"Our time in Atlanta has come to an end," Fontenot wrote under a photo of his family. "On to our next adventure in the Big Apple! From the Saints to the Falcons to the NFL corporate office. Our journey continues. Gods plan. All blessings."
Former Falcons general manager lands NFL job in New York
📸 Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con https://t.co/SW7tpigpkKpic.twitter.com/iv3IkLbp0s
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons Recap: Michael Penix Jr. back to claim QB job, rookie rising
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