Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has yet to be fully cleared in his recovery from ACL surgery, which means he can’t participate in 11-on-11 drills at this week’s mandatory minicamp. However, the third-year QB is feeling good about his rehab.
“Health-wise, I’m right where I need to be,” Penix said following Tuesday’s practice. “Still making strides day to day. I’m not 100 percent yet, but I know I will be right on time.”
Penix said he feels confident enough to go through his normal workload, including 11-on-11s, but the trainers are making sure he doesn’t have any setbacks before the team goes on break for the summer.
“I feel confident with everything,” answered Penix. “Sometimes the trainers stand to the side and tell me no you can’t do it. And I’m like, I feel like I can do it. But I just listen to those guys and just continue to trust my body, trust my knee. If it was up to me, I’d do 11-on-11 now.”
The Falcons quarterback said will meet with his doctor after minicamp. When asked about the next milestone in his recovery, Penix said it was all about taking contact.
“For me, the next milestone is taking contact because right now everything is non-contact” said Penix. “So that would be the next step. Just making sure I’m confident in my knee and confident to being able to take contact and keep playing.”
Penix does have the advantage of experience as he recovers from the third serious knee injury of his career.
“I feel like you have a better understanding of your body,” Penix said. “You have a better understanding of where you’re at in your rehab process and stuff like that but nothing about it is easy.”
The former top-10 pick expects to be cleared for 11-on-11 by training camp in July and is still targeting a return by Week 1.
“I just take it one day at a time,” said Penix. “Each and every day I’m trying to get better doing what I can to help this team win football games.”
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix gives update on injury timeline
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