On Monday, the Atlanta Falcons officially declared Tua Tagovailoa as their starting signal-caller for their season opener versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tagovailoa secured the starting role over Michael Penix Jr., who spent the exhibition period continuing his recovery from a torn ACL that cut short his 2025 season.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski likely dropped a hint earlier this summer when Tagovailoa was named the starter for the exhibition opener. Discussing his approach, Stefanski explained that his preference is to utilize his primary starters during the first and third preseason matchups.
Tagovailoa’s playing time in the preseason opener was limited to a single possession. He completed 3 of 5 pass attempts for a total of 22 yards. During his brief and otherwise quiet appearance, the quarterback dropped the ball but managed to secure his own fumble.
Tagovailoa also took the field for one possession in the third exhibition matchup, delivering a sharp performance by completing 7 of 8 passes for 95 yards.
This decision follows a training camp period where Tagovailoa handled the vast majority of the first-team reps.
Sign up for or set up a Yahoo Fantasy Football league ahead of the 2026 NFL campaign
Penix was limited to 7-on-7 work during the opening fortnight of camp, only progressing to full 11-on-11 team drills by the third week of the preseason. Consequently, Penix is slated to be inactive for the season opener, leaving Cooper Rush to serve as Tagovailoa’s primary backup in Atlanta.
This marks the debut campaign in Atlanta for Tagovailoa, who originally launched his professional career with the Miami Dolphins. However, after Miami chose a different path and dismissed Mike McDaniel, the front office decided to cut Tagovailoa, absorbing a significant dead salary cap penalty in the process.
Last year, the seasoned signal-caller started 14 matchups, compiling a 6-8 record. He accumulated 2,660 passing yards, throwing 20 touchdowns against 15 interceptions. His completion rate stood at 67.7%, representing his lowest mark in a single season since 2022.
With the starting quarterback settled for Week 1, a more significant inquiry emerges regarding Tagovailoa’s ability to retain the role long-term. Assuming Penix only missed out on the starting spot because of his ongoing recovery, how will the coaching staff manage the depth chart once he is cleared for a complete return?
During the 2025 season, Penix held the starting job over veteran Kirk Cousins. However, health issues plagued him all year, restricting him to just nine appearances. Under his leadership, Atlanta posted a 3-6 record as he recorded 1,982 passing yards, 9 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.
