Falcons name Tua Tagovailoa as starting quarterback for season opener

The Atlanta Falcons named Tua Tagovailoa the starting quarterback for the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the decision six days before the team's first regular season game. Tagovailoa, who joined the Falcons this year after his release from the Miami Dolphins, spent the preseason competing for the position. While Michael Penix Jr. remained on the roster, his limited practice time due to recovery from a torn ACL hindered his ability to compete for the starting role. The Falcons also kept Cooper Rush and Jack Strand on their 53-player roster. Tagovailoa will make his first start for Atlanta at Acrisure Stadium, the site of his final appearance with the Dolphins last season.

• 12:19 PMYahoo Sports — Falcons pick Tua Tagovailoa as their Week 1 starting quarterback
• 12:18 PMYahoo Sports — And the Falcons’ starting QB for Week 1 is … Tua Tagovailoa