Falcons name Tua Tagovailoa Week 1 starter over Michael Penix Jr.

Penix went 3-6 as a starter in 2025.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 71 min read

The Falcons have named Tua Tagovailoa their starting quarterback over Michael Penix Jr. Was this the correct decision? Via @NFLonFOX on X

What happened: Tagovailoa will make his Atlanta regular-season debut next Sunday in Pittsburgh. Penix missed the preseason while recovering from last year's season-ending knee injury.

Why it matters: The decision settles Atlanta's summer quarterback competition before the opener. Penix moves into a reserve role as he works toward full-team participation.

By the numbers: Tagovailoa completed 3 of 5 passes for 22 yards and lost a fumble in his preseason debut.

What to watch: Tagovailoa's Week 1 performance and Penix's progress toward full-team work will test whether the quarterback order holds.

Sources

@NFLonFOX 2026-09-07T13:46:01.081307+00:00

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NFLBreakingAtlanta FalconsTua TagovailoaMichael Penix Jr.

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