Tagovailoa to Open Season as Starter for Atlanta

ATLANTA, Ga. — Former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will begin the season as the team's starting quarterback.

The Falcons open their season in Pittsburgh against the Steelers on Sunday.

Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Monday that former No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. is not physically ready and will be inactive Sunday. Cooper Rush will be Atlanta's backup against the Steelers.

Penix Jr. is recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in November of 2025.

"I think every decision I make for the football team, you're taking in all the information available to you. Sometimes information changes," Stefanski told reporters. "And certainly with a decision like this, you want to make sure you're taking all the information from the spring to the summer, including how people are performing—those types of things. So felt really strongly about this group and feel good about where we're heading."

Tagovailoa, who signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with Atlanta after six years with the Miami Dolphins, will be the franchise's sixth week-one starter in six years.

Tagovailoa had his fair share of ups and downs in Miami, dealing with injuries and turnover issues despite leading the league in completion percentage in 2024 and passing yards in 2025.

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