The Atlanta Falcons are inching closer to their Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they don't seem to be any closer to naming a starting quarterback.
Michael Penix Jr. is still getting comfortable after being cleared for contract, and while Tua Tagaovailoa is only costing the Falcons a veteran minimum this year, reports indicate he simply hasn't played well enough to earn the job.
Asked when he would name a starting quarterback for the 2026 season yesterday, head coach Kevin Stefanski said he will wait until they tell him he has to.
"I’m honestly not trying to be coy," said Stefanski. "We will focus on what information is available to us. Every day you’re just trying to make decisions on who is available to you."
Kevin Stefanski
will name a starter "whenever they tell me I have to," he said. "I’m honestly not trying to be coy. We will focus on what information is available to us. Every day you’re just trying to make decisions on who is available to you."
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) August 26, 2026
That deadline will likely come the Wednesday before Atlanta's regular season opener in Pittsburgh, two weeks from yesterday. That's when the Falcons' first official depth chart of the season is due out - and we'll finally find out who's going to be under center on the first possession of the year.
Of course, the Falcons could always try to split the middle like they did with their last preseason depth chart, which has both Tagovailoa and Penix as the QB1.
Anything can happen once the real games begin, but right now the ship appears to be headed for a rather sizable iceberg. Losing Jalon Walker for the season and James Pearce for eight games punched two holes in the hull, and if they can't find a legitimate starting quarterback soon they won't stay afloat for long.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Kevin Stefanski in no rush to choose winner of Falcons QB battle
