Falcons place Tua Tagovailoa on short leash for potential Week 1 start

The Atlanta Falcons remain the only NFL team without a designated starting quarterback for their September 13 regular season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Reports indicate the organization is considering Tua Tagovailoa for the role, though he faces a potential immediate benching if his performance struggles. The team continues to monitor the health of Michael Penix Jr., who recently returned to practice after recovering from a torn ACL sustained last November. Should Tagovailoa falter or remain ineffective, the coaching staff is prepared to pursue alternative options on the roster, including Cooper Rush or Jack Strand. The Falcons are expected to finalize their quarterback decision before team practices resume early next week. The uncertainty surrounding the position follows an underwhelming preseason performance by Tagovailoa.

• 4:08 PMYahoo Sports — Tua Tagovailoa could be on short leash if named starter
• 4:01 PMYahoo Sports — Falcons to have a 'short leash' on Tua Tagovailoa after poor preseason