Tua Tagovailoa starts for Atlanta as Michael Penix Jr recovers from injury

Tua Tagovailoa will start at quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons in their 2026 Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although the team named Tagovailoa the starter, the front office conducted a limited evaluation due to the recovery timeline of Michael Penix Jr. Penix was only recently cleared for full 11-on-11 drills following an ACL injury that hindered his participation during the preseason. Analysts note that the quarterback competition remains open as the regular season begins, particularly if Tagovailoa fails to produce aggressive offensive results. Tagovailoa did not attempt a pass beyond the sticks in two preseason appearances, leading to internal questions regarding his long-term viability as the starter. The Falcons intend to monitor both players closely throughout the early portion of the season.

• 2:12 PMYahoo Sports — NFL analyst says 'don't write off' Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr.