What happened: He told Kevin Stefanski he is not where he wants to be physically. Tua Tagovailoa will start, with Cooper Rush serving as the backup.
Why it matters: The decision postpones Penix's 2026 debut and removes him from Atlanta's opening-game depth chart. Stefanski declined to project his availability beyond the opener.
By the numbers: Penix participated in six 11-on-11 practices during training camp.
What to watch: His practice workload will help determine whether he dresses after Week 1.