The Atlanta Falcons confirmed this morning on the team’s official website that Tua Tagovailoa will be the team’s Week 1 Starting Quarterback:
Tagovailoa, who signed with the team this offseason, worked with the starting offense during full-team periods for most of training camp. He also started the Falcons’ first and final preseason games. He completed 10 of his 13 pass attempts for 117 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and had a passer rating of 103.7.
-Atlantafalcons.com
“I think the biggest thing that you can tell is he’s a veteran,” Falcons offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said of Tagovailoa during training camp. “He can see the field really well, and if the defense makes a mistake, he can see that and exploit it.”
The decision ends speculation over who will play under center when the Falcons visit the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday.
Tagovailoa, 28, signed a one-year, veteran minimum contract valued at $1.2 million with Atlanta this past March. His arrival followed a stunning release by the Miami Dolphins, who elected to part ways with the former Pro Bowler despite absorbing a record-shattering $99.2 million dead cap hit.
The decision secures Tagovailoa his 77th career regular-season start, offering him a clear opportunity to resurrect a career that stalled late last season in Miami.
Tagovailoa ultimately beat out 26-year-old Michael Penix Jr., the Falcons’ highly touted 2024 first-round pick. Penix’s path to the starting job was severely hampered by a torn ACL suffered in Week 11 of last season against the Carolina Panthers.
The young signal-caller was not medically cleared for 11-on-11 team drills until August 24, leaving him with limited time to mount a true challenge for the top spot. Because Penix did not participate in preseason games, the coaching staff determined he required more time to get back up to full game speed.
Despite the decision, the clock is ticking for Tagovailoa. Team insiders expect Penix to eventually get his opportunity under center later this year, especially as the front office evaluates whether to trigger Penix’s fifth-year contract option for the 2028 season.
The Falcons enter Sunday’s contest against Pittsburgh looking for stability at the game’s most critical position. Tagovailoa becomes the sixth different Week 1 starting quarterback for Atlanta in the last six seasons.
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