Can Atlanta finally find stability at quarterback? In Flowery Branch, Ga., the Falcons announced Tua Tagovailoa will start Sunday in Pittsburgh, while Michael Penx Jr. continues rehab.
Even with a Week 1 plan, the competition feels very much alive. For my money, the battle keeps the locker room honest.
I told coach Kevin Stefanski I’m not where I want to be yet,” Penix said Monday. “I need to be 100 percent to help this team win.”
Penix gave no timetable, saying he’s ‘really, really close.’ Earlier, the club named Tagovailoa the starter, though Stefanski hinted the role could shift.
I’ll stay the course for Week 1 and avoid speculation beyond that,” the first‑year head coach declared. “It’s unfair to look past this week for our football squad.”
Atlanta was the last NFL franchise to reveal its opener quarterback, making Tagovailoa the sixth different starter in as many years. He becomes the 14th QB to take the field for Stefanski, who spent six seasons coaching Cleveland before joining the Falcons.
Eight‑year veteran Cooper Rush, signed on day one of camp, will back up Tagovailoa, while Penix remains inactive.
I feel good,” Rush said Monday. “Those first weeks gave me a lot of reps, which was huge, and I’ve improved each week. It’s a well‑coached system that’s easy to grasp.”
Penix, the No. 8 pick of the 2024 draft, tore his ACL in Week 11 last season and only returned to full 11‑on‑11 drills on Aug. 24.
He’s doing everything possible to be ready,” Stefanski said. “Mike keeps improving, and I’m proud of his progress. We’ll continue working together, and I’m very confident in our plan for him. We’re all aligned and feel good about his current state.”
Penix is fully participating in Falcons practices.
There’s no timestamp,” Penix explained. “It’s a daily feel—how sore I am or how I react to a big day—that guides me.”
Since college, Penix has endured five season‑ending injuries and admits he rushed back before.
I’ve rushed back before, felt shaky, and performed poorly,” he said. “After everything I’ve been through, I want full confidence before stepping out. It’s not about a big year; it’s about giving the team 100 percent.”
The 28‑year‑old will make his 77th regular‑season start. He joined Atlanta on a one‑year veteran‑minimum deal ($1.2 million) after six seasons in Miami, where he earned a 2023 Pro Bowl nod but was cut two years later despite a near $100 million dead cap hit.
I’ve watched Tua work since spring,” Stefanski noted. “This is a new system for everyone, and he’s done a great job adapting, positioning himself to be his best.”
Tagovailoa missed the first camp week with back spasms and struggled early in practice and preseason, but coaches see steady improvement and believe a tailored game plan will speed his growth.
As camp progresses, we pinpoint each quarterback’s strengths and shape the offense around them,” offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said. “He’s taking ownership of the offense’s operations, handling tasks he hasn’t done before.”
Since entering the league in 2020, Tagovailoa ranks fourth in NFL completion percentage, according to TruMedia.
When everything clicks, his accuracy is unmatched,” Rees added.
The Falcons remain motivated to start Penix later, as he’s halfway through his rookie deal and the club hasn’t decided on the fifth‑year option for 2028.
I’m incredibly proud of these guys; they’ve worked nonstop this offseason and will keep pushing each other. I expect Penix to take the helm sometime before the season’s second half.