The Atlanta Falcons are moving through training camp and the quarterbacks have been all the talk, mostly because the pair that fans expected to battle for the starting job have not been able to practice fully.

Tua Tagovailoa surprised some when he was out of the first practice with a back issue that he is expected to return from this week, but Michael Penix Jr.'s knee has been a part of the narrative all offseason long. Despite the hopes of fans, Penix was unfortunately not ready to go, and he made it clear he was not all that close when he told media it could be as many as another four weeks before he's fully cleared to practice.

Because of this, many now believe the quarterback battle is already over and that Tagovailoa will begin the year with the job, but Penix says he is thinking about attacking his rehab and getting healthy before even giving thought to beating out Tagovailoa.

During an interview with Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Penix gave some insight as to his perspective on the whole situation.

"I would say just time," Penix said when asked what his next step was in his recovery, specifically mentioning cutting as something he needs to do more of. "The biggest thing for me right now is I'm no contact at this point in my rehab process."

Fowler pressed further when Penix said he wanted to help this team win games in 2026, asking if he wants to be the starter. While he admitted of course he does want that, Penix doubled down that he is still focused on getting healthy, an indicator that he is still a ways away.

"Everybody wants to be in the [starter] role, but at the same time you've gotta work for it. Tua came in and he's been great," he said. "It's all a process. Right now, I have to focus on getting back on the field. The whole starter thing, that comes later."

Whether or not Penix is being fully truthful cannot be known, but at least externally, he is focusing on the right things. Everyone wants to see a heated quarterback battle with both lefties duking it out to show why they're the man for the job, but his long-term health is much more important.

Penix is going to undeniably be put at a huge disadvantage if he wants to begin the year as the starter, but he's focusing on what he can control and giving himself a chance by being on the field at all, and that's exactly what he should be doing.