Atlanta Falcons announced Tua Tagovailoa as starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Steelers, with Penix inactive. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa has been named the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced Monday.
The decision comes after Tagovailoa’s monthslong competition with Michael Penix Jr., who started nine games for the Falcons in 2025 before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in November.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Cooper Rush will back up Tagovailoa and Penix will be inactive. He declined to speculate on who the team might start at signal-caller beyond Week 1.
Tagovailoa outnumbered Penix in valuable reps throughout training camp. Penix was cleared for 11-on-11 drills on Aug. 22 but did not appear in any preseason games for the Falcons.
“Of course, Mike just getting back to 11-on-11, wanted to make sure we gave him an opportunity in these practices, and we did,” Stefanski said Monday. “But feel strongly about our decision with everything, all the information available to us.”
Tagovailoa started the Falcons’ first and final preseason games. He was 7 of 8 for 95 yards in three drives against his former team, the Miami Dolphins, in Atlanta’s third exhibition. He led an 8-play, 60-yard touchdown drive in Atlanta’s opening drive and lost a fumble in his second. The Falcons beat the Dolphins 17-12.
Stefanski first addressed the quarterback unit as a whole, which consists of Tagovailoa, Penix, Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand.
“Really, really proud of those guys,” he said.