NFL team starts camp in chaos as TWO QBs hurt,star missing practice

The Atlanta Falcons training camp has begun with a stuttering start at the most vital position of all, while star running back Bijan Robinson also skipped the first session of the new season.

New head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that new arrival at quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a minor injury, and he’ll be back ‘sooner rather than later.’

The man that he is competing against for the starting position is Michael Penix Jr., who also continues to recover from an ACL tear, while veteran Trevor Siemian was released Wednesday morning in a series of roster moves.

Penix will, however, be available for 7-on-7s. Jack Strand, Atlanta’s sole healthy signal-caller, is now set to be joined by incoming veteran quarterback Cooper Rush as Stefanski looks to build momentum around his team at the start of camp.

Rush last played for the Baltimore Ravens. He has appeared in 42 career games and thrown for 3,766 yards, 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Robinson, meanwhile, did not take part in Stefanski’s first session of camp amid conversations in the offseason about a new long-term deal.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr is only healthy enough for 7-on7s at present

Tua Tagovailoa signed for the Falcons in a fresh start after a tough time at Miami Dolphins

Star running back Bijan Robinson missed practice amid talks over a new Falcons contract

Robinson is widely considered one of, if not the best, running back in the NFL and is playing on a four-year, $22million rookie contract, with the Falcons exercising a fifth-year option for 2027. He clocked a career-best 2,298 yards in 2025.

Stefanski described Tagovailoa’s injury as a ‘flare-up’ and said he doesn’t anticipate a long absence from the former Dolphins quarterback. He said Tagovailoa will be present but not participating.

The first-year Falcons coach kept the details of Tagovailoa’s injury secret, saying that one of the perks of training camp is not having to divulge every detail.

But ESPN, citing unnamed sources, reported Wednesday that Tagovailoa is dealing with a тιԍнт back.

Stefanski is encouraged by Penix’s recovery, though he doesn’t have an exact timetable for the quarterback’s return to 11-on-11 drills.

‘I don’t know the exact date on when that would happen,’ Stefanski said. ‘All along, as you guys can imagine, we have put total trust into Mike, the medical team and the doctor who performed his surgery. 

‘So I’m very, very comfortable with where we are and the plan that we have.’

Stefanski has not, however, shed any further light on Robinson’s status. 

The Falcons start the season in Pittsburgh on September 13 against Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers.