09/07/26 12:59:00
Printable Page
09/07 12:57 CDT Falcons select Tua Tagovailoa as Week 1 starter; Michael Penix
Jr. will be inactive vs. Steelers
Falcons select Tua Tagovailoa as Week 1 starter; Michael Penix Jr. will be
inactive vs. Steelers
By MAURA CAREY
AP Sports Writer
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) --- Tua Tagovailoa has been selected as 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
QB beyond Week 1.
Tagovailoa received more 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."
Penix said Monday that Stefanski met with both quarterbacks when selecting the
Week 1 starter. Penix alluded to not feeling quite ready yet, but he said he's
"really close."
"I want to be stronger. I want to be able to go out there and give the team
100%, and if I don't feel like I can do that, I don't want to," Penix said.
"That's not fair for this team. That's not fair for this organization. I want
to make sure whenever I am out there, I'm 100%. There's no doubt in my mind
that I trust my knee."
Tagovailoa started the Falcons' first and final preseason games, splitting time
with Strand and Rush. 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
eight-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 group as a whole, which consists of
Tagovailoa, Penix, Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand.
"Really, really proud of those guys," he said. "Those guys have worked like
crazy all offseason, and they've pushed each other, supported each other, and
that's what we'll do for Tua. We'll continue to support him and understand that
this is a collective group that is constantly looking to help each other."
Tagovailoa signed a one-year deal with the Falcons in March following a
six-year stint with the Dolphins. Miami is on the hook for a $99.2 million dead
cap hit over the next two seasons after giving Tagovailoa a four-year, $212.5
million contract extension in 2024.
"I've gotten to see Tua work from the spring until now," Stefanski said. "New
system for all these guys, and like I told them, there's a lot of newness with
our players, coaches and, you know, everybody getting up to speed, and he's
done a really nice job of working at it. ... I think he's really put himself in
position to go be the best version of himself."
Tagovailoa's first start for Atlanta will be at the site of his last with
Miami. The quarterback was benched for rookie Quinn Ewers following the
Dolphins' 28-15 loss in Pittsburgh on Dec. 15.
___
See AP's full NFL coverage here
|
