WESTFIELD, Ind. — Kevin Stefanski was encouraged by the progress his Atlanta Falcons made in two days of joint practices against the Indianapolis Colts here this week, but the most critical question of training camp moved no closer to a resolution. And the Falcons still don’t have a timetable for naming a starting quarterback, Stefanski said Thursday.“We will cross that bridge when we get there,” he said. “Like I see with every other battle on the roster, guys are working hard.”That will be an understandably unsatisfactory answer for many fans, but there are still too many questions the coaches can’t answer. Tua Tagovailoa did little over the course of two days to separate himself from Michael Penix Jr., who still is being held out of 11-on-11 work by the surgeon who repaired the torn ACL that ended his 2025 season in Week 11. Penix had a meeting scheduled with his doctor on Thursday evening.“As far as moving in the pocket, I can do everything,” Penix said. “If I had a rush coming at me, I can get away. It’s just, if I don’t get away, that’s what we’re thinking about right now — if I don’t get away. I don’t think my doctor is ready for me to take those hits right now, but that time is coming real soon.”Drake London breaks down film, space vs. leverage, Kevin Stefanski and moreRobert MaysPenix wants to fully return to practice but will not lobby his doctor to release him, he said.“I mean, I would never argue with a doctor,” he said. “I feel like they know more than me as far as the body. I’m just going to trust what he says and trust God and, like I always say, continue to run my race. Whatever he says, that’s what it’s going to be, and I’m going to trust him and trust God and keep taking steps in the right direction.”Penix had surgery on Nov. 25 last year and said at the end of July he was probably four weeks from being cleared. The Falcons and Colts will play a preseason game on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, but Atlanta’s starters will not see any action. If Penix is cleared by his doctor this week, the earliest he could get on the field is Monday’s practice.“He’s doing a great job,” Stefanski said. “He’s preparing as if he’s getting every rep out here.”Penix was 2-for-5 passing with an interception in seven-on-seven work against the Colts on Thursday. His last pass was an interception in a red zone drill.“I want to take advantage of every rep that I get, but today I ended on a bad play, so now I have to sit there thinking about that was my last play,” he said.Meanwhile, Tagovailoa was 7-of-14 with three touchdowns in 11-on-11 work in the red zone. He was 1-of-3 in seven-on-seven drills. Tagovailoa started well in a two-minute drill late in practice, completing two passes to Drake London and one to Bijan Robinson to move Atlanta to midfield but then threw four straight incompletions to end the day. In Wednesday and Thursday’s practices combined, he was 15-of-27.Stefanski called Tagovailoa’s practice on Thursday “good,” putting most of the issues on poor pass blocking.“I think our protection needs to clean up in a lot of areas, and the quarterback plays a role in that as well,” the coach said.Here are some additional takeaways from Thursday’s action:Stefanski reunionZa’Darius Smith will bring a veteran presence and lots of energy to Atlanta’s edge rusher room, Stefanski said.“Big personality, you are going to hear him before you see him,” Stefanski said. “He has heavy hands, excellent against the run, was an excellent teammate for us.”Smith played for Stefanski in Cleveland in 2023 and the first half of 2024 before being traded. Smith, who has 70.5 sacks in an 11-year NFL career, briefly retired at the end of the 2025 season but decided to return this offseason and signed a one-year deal with the Falcons earlier this week. He did not participate in either joint practice and will not play in Saturday’s game.“I have a comfort level with Za’Darius the person and Za’Darius the player,” Stefanski said.Big days for the backsBijan Robinson is keeping score on the highlights the Falcons post on social media.“I know they don’t show too much run stuff on social media, but I feel like we did very well hat-on-hat and showing a glimpse of what we are going to be this season,” Robinson said after Thursday’s practice. “I thought we did very well.”Robinson got a lot of work over the two days, although no running backs were tackled to the ground.“I always love to compete against other guys. It’s always fun,” he said. “You can’t walk out there and not bring intensity.”Third-string running back Tyler Goodson left Thursday’s practice after a collision with a Colts linebacker during a blocking drill. Goodson did not return but remained on the sideline.A screen game hintTight end Kyle Pitts playfully declined to discuss how much time the Falcons have spent practicing their screen game so far, which only strengthens my belief that it’s going to be a big part of the offense.“That’s a schematic question. I can’t give you that answer,” Pitts said with a grin.Strand’s last stand?It’s tough not to see this as a bad week for undrafted free agent quarterback Jack Strand. The feel-good story of the first week of training camp did not take a snap in any team work against the Colts, but Stefanski said he will play half of Saturday’s preseason game.Veteran Cooper Rush took all the second-team snaps in 11-on-11 drills and looks to have officially taken over the No. 3 quarterback position.A welcome returnJawaan Taylor’s return to the right tackle spot made a noticeable difference for the Falcons on Wednesday and Thursday. Taylor missed the first two weeks of training camp rehabbing a knee injury.“Good to get Jawaan going,” Stefanski said. “I thought there were some really good moments out there, pleased with where he is.”Left tackle Jack Matthews is still dealing with a minor injury but did more 11-on-11 work Thursday than Wednesday, when he had only one series. Michael Jerrell took a step forward in the battle for the swing tackle position, working at right and left tackle on Thursday, while Wanya Morris didn’t take any team reps.Extra points• The Falcons showed London’s leaping touchdown catch on Wednesday during their team meeting Thursday morning, Stefanski said. “Yeah, pretty good catch,” the coach deadpanned. “He can do many things, and one of the things he can do is elevate to go get the football. His body control is elite.”• Wide receiver Chris Blair took the snaps Jahan Dotson usually gets with the first-team offense during red zone work Thursday.• Safety Jessie Bates participated in pre-practice drills but got no team work.• Defensive tackle LaCale London returned to team drills.