Tua Tagovailoa starts at quarterback for Atlanta Falcons in Week 1

Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Tua Tagovailoa will be the starting quarterback for the team's Week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cooper Rush will serve as the backup, while Michael Penix Jr. is designated as inactive due to not being physically ready to play. Tagovailoa joined the Falcons this offseason after spending six seasons with the Miami Dolphins, where he started 76 games and posted a 44-32 record. He appeared in two preseason games for Atlanta, completing 10 of 13 passes for 117 total yards. The transition follows the conclusion of his tenure in Miami, where he previously helped lead the organization to consecutive postseason appearances in 2022 and 2023.

• 12:22 PMYahoo Sports — Kevin Stefanski delivers update on Falcons QB room