Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has not been cleared for 11-on-11 work in this week’s mandatory minicamp, meaning his competition with Tua Tagovailoa will have to wait until training camp to begin in earnest.“We’re not giving out any jobs in June,” Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said. “With any competition, those things work themselves out down the line. As a team, we have to realize that we’re all working forward.”Stefanski said he was “very comfortable” with Penix’s progress as he tries to return from the torn ACL that ended his 2025 season in Week 11. He has participated in individual drills and seven-on-seven work throughout OTAs. Stefanski declined to say if he expected Penix to be fully cleared for the beginning of training camp, which begins the last week of July.Penix’s status wasn’t the only piece of news out of Falcons minicamp. The team also brought second-year edge rusher James Pearce Jr. back into the building for the first time since his arrest following a February incident with former girlfriend Rickea Jackson that resulted in three felony charges — for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing the police and resisting an officer with violence — being filed against him. According to an arrest affidavit filed in the case, Pearce followed Jackson’s car for an extended period, intentionally collided with both her front and rear bumpers and attempted to block her access to a Doral (Fla.) police department building.In May, Pearce entered a 12-month pretrial intervention program that could result in all charges being dropped, but he still faces possible discipline from the NFL. He did not attend any of the team’s voluntary OTA workouts this spring.“I’m not going to give the specifics about the conversations with any player,” Stefanski said. “I like to keep things private, but he understands what’s expected of him.”Pearce reported to the Falcons’ Flowery Branch, Ga., facility on Monday and will be a limited participant in practice this week.“I really can’t speak to the past,” Stefanski said. “What’s in the future? I’m excited that everybody’s here, ready to learn.”Stefanski said he is optimistic that the veterans will integrate Pearce back into the locker room appropriately.“Football teams and locker rooms are organic things,” he said. “I believe in the people that we have in our locker room. I think any player that comes into our building understands what’s expected of that player, understands what’s important.”Pearce was requested for media interviews but is not expected to speak to the media, according to a team representative.The Falcons have not been given any updates from the league about its investigation into Pearce’s situation, Stefanski said. The NFL previously announced that it is reviewing the matter under its personal conduct policy, which gives commissioner Roger Goodell broad latitude to impose suspensions regardless of the outcome of criminal proceedings. Previous offenses by players have resulted in suspensions of up to eight games.