The biggest question facing the 2026 Atlanta Falcons has been answered.
On Monday, the Falcons announced that Tua Tagovailoa, who signed with the Falcons this offseason after being released by the Miami Dolphins, has been named the starter for Week 1 against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
The Falcons’ quarterback situation has been a roller-coaster ride since the first day of training camp — and not a particularly fun one.
On Day 1 of camp, the team announced that Trevor Siemian had been released with
an injury settlement; Tua Tagovailoa would not be participating in practice due to some lower back stiffness; and the team was signing QB Cooper Rush. Michael Penix Jr. wasn’t medically cleared until the final week of training camp, so that left Rush and rookie undrafted free agent Jack Strand to participate in that first practice.
Stefanski declined to name a starter throughout the preseason, even though Penix’s medical clearance came so late in the process that he was unable to take any preseason game snaps.
And Tua’s preseason performance didn’t necessarily enthuse fans. He completed 3 of 5 attempts for 22 yards, zero touchdowns, and zero picks in Week 1 of the preseason against the Broncos, sat out Week 2 (this was always Stefanski’s plan, to let the starters take most of the joint practice reps with the Colts and sit out that preseason game), and went 7 of 8 for 95 yards, no touchdowns, no picks, and one absurd botched snap that turned into a fumble and kind of overshadowed the rest of his performance.
But I have concerns about whether or not Michael Penix is ready, after basically three days of full practice, to play an entire NFL game. I do believe, based on what Penix has said about it, he’s past the mental aspect of his recovery, and I trust that he’s physically healthy. I worry that his lack of contact leading up to Week 1 could lead to a different injury altogether, or that the lack of contact and full-speed practice or preseason action has him unprepared for the speed of the regular-game.
And that’s not to suggest there aren’t injury concerns with Tua. His concussion history worries me — not because of football, but for the sake of his long-term health and well being. But he has gotten most of the meaningful work this preseason with the starters, he has participated fully in padded practices, joint practices, and the preseason, and it stands to reason that he is more prepared — through no fault of Penix’s, just because of the timing of his medical clearance — to be the Week 1 starter.
Tua spent the first six seasons of his career with the Miami Dolphins, who drafted him with the fifth overall pick out of Alabama in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has a 68% completion percentage over his NFL career, throwing 120 touchdowns against 59 interceptions.
He was released by the Dolphins in March 2026 after a 2025 season he finished with 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, 15 picks, and took 30 sacks. He was benched for the final three games of the season.
I don’t think this decision says anything about either Tua’s or Penix’s long-term future with the Falcons or as the starter. There’s a lot of football to be played before I’ll have an opinion about that.
But I do think it’s Tua’s job to lose. If he goes out there and balls out, it would be silly to sit him. If he doesn’t, though, it likely won’t be long before Penix is ready to step in.
Can the 2026 version of Tua Tagovailoa do that, and stay healthy? That’s now one of the biggest questions facing the 2026 Falcons now.
