RADIO
Tua Tagovailoa Suffers Discomfort During Throwing Drills on Thursday
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa appeared to suffer discomfort during individual throwing drills during Thursday's practice and briefly went to the ground, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. It is unclear exactly what Tagovailoa is dealing with or if it will prevent him from making the start in Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he did miss the first week of training camp due to lower-back spasms. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is still recovering from a partially torn ACL late last season and will not be ready for the 2026 season opener, which is why Tagovailoa was named as the starter to open the year. If Tagovailoa's injury keeps him from playing this weekend, either Cooper Rush or Jack Strand could be forced into action against Pittsburgh on Sunday. Tagovailoa only has short-term, deep-league appeal in two-QB formats as the starter to begin the season, but the full expectation is that Penix will take over once he is cleared to come back from his knee injury. If active in Week 1, Tagovailoa will merely be a low-end QB2 for fantasy managers in deep superflex leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Josh Kendall
Source: The Athletic - Josh Kendall
Michael Penix Jr. Will Be Inactive in Week 1
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) will be inactive for Sunday's season opener against Pittsburgh, head coach Kevin Stefanski said, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter. Tua Tagovailoa will start, with Cooper Rush serving as Atlanta's No. 2 quarterback. Penix spent most of the offseason and training camp working his way back from ACL surgery before finally being cleared for full-team work in late August. He did not play in any of Atlanta's three preseason games. Stefanski declined to put a timeline on what comes next for Penix, but said he is "very, very confident" in the team's plan for him and feels good about where he is right now. Penix started nine games last season, throwing for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions.
Source: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Source: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Falcons Name Tua Tagovailoa the Week 1 Starter
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Atlanta Falcons have named quarterback Tua Tagovailoa their starter for their Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former Miami Dolphins quarterback joined the Falcons in the offseason and was competing alongside Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job. However, with Penix still recovering from a torn ACL, Tagovailoa had the edge for much of the competition. Despite this, fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his production, as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported last week that the Falcons may not give Tagovailoa a long leash if he were to struggle early in the season. In 2025, Tagovailoa appeared in 14 games for the Dolphins and posted a modest 20:15 TD:INT while averaging 190 passing yards per game. Given his inconsistencies last season, Tagovailoa should be viewed as a low-end QB3 in Superflex formats in Week 1.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Tua Tagovailoa Could Be on a Short Leash if Named the Starter
NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport expects Tua Tagovailoa to be on "a little bit of a short leash" if he is named the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. Tagovailoa is competing with Michael Penix Jr. for the QB1 role in Atlanta. Penix is recovering from a partial ACL tear that he suffered in November 2025, which required surgery. Penix was fully cleared to practice in late August, but his timeline for returning to game action remains unknown. Tagovailoa struggled in the preseason, and his confidence seems to be waning. Rapoport noted that Penix would likely be the starter if he were healthy, but that Atlanta is left in "limbo" in terms of what to do at the quarterback position right now. The Falcons signed Tagovailoa to a one-year contract worth $1.215 million in March. Tagovailoa has a current Yahoo ADP of 201 and is best left on the waiver wire in all standard leagues as things currently stand.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Falcons Plan to Eventually Start Michael Penix Jr.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is expected to eventually take over as the starter under center, according to Cameron Wolfe. Penix is still working his way back from a partially torn left ACL from last year. He was cleared to begin doing team drills as of last weekend. Wolfe mentions that he believes it's too soon for Penix to start in Week 1, but it doesn't sound like it'll take him too long before he's ready to go. The expectation is that Tua Tagovailoa will begin the season as the starter while Penix gets fully healthy. The 26-year-old is likely still viewed as the future in Atlanta, but they need to make sure he's healthy first.
Source: Cameron Wolfe
Source: Cameron Wolfe
Falcons Still Evaluating "All of the Quarterbacks"
Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said the group will make the decision on the starting quarterback going into Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "You're evaluating all of the quarterbacks," Cunningham said. The decision comes down to Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. (knee), although some folks believe that rookie Jack Strand could also be in the mix after looking good in the preseason and seeing some first-team reps in training camp practices. The thought was that the Falcons would give the starting gig to Tagovailoa to allow Penix to continue his recovery from a partially torn ACL late last season, but Tua's struggles this summer have the organization rethinking their plan under center. If Tagovailoa is named the starter, it might only be because the Falcons want to give Penix more time to get his legs under him and get back to 100%. Penix is clearly still Atlanta's preferred option to be the franchise signal-caller long term. Whoever starts at QB for the Falcons in Week 1 will be a low-end QB2 option in superflex leagues, at best.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - D. Orlando Ledbetter
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - D. Orlando Ledbetter
Tua Tagovailoa May Have Shown Just Enough When Most Needed
Starting against his former team, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had his ups and downs in the team's final outing of the preseason, a 17-12 win over the Miami Dolphins. He looked sharp on an eight-play, 60-yard touchdown drive to open the night, and he finished the game with 95 passing yards and only one incompletion on eight attempts, but he also lost a fumble on an under-center snap on the second drive of the game, his second fumble in as many preseason games. Tagovailoa has struggled with consistency throughout his first training camp with the Falcons, unable to take advantage of the opportunity provided by Michael Penix Jr.'s (knee) prolonged absence. Penix was recently cleared to participate in team drills, and while he did not suit up for the team's final preseason contest, he believes he will be ready for Atlanta's Week 1 matchup with the Steelers. Tagovailoa may have done just enough on Friday night to hold the starting job heading into the regular season, but with Penix in the third year of his rookie deal, the Falcons will soon be faced with a decision on his fifth-year option, all but ensuring he will at some point assume starting duties. Tagovailoa is RotoBaller's QB32 for 2026 and not a player who needs to be drafted.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Michael Penix Jr. Thinks he'll be Ready for Week 1
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee), who was cleared to participate in team drills earlier this week, thinks he will be ready to go for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Tori McElhaney of the team's official website. "I felt good. I felt confident," Penix said about his return to training camp practice this week. He will not participate in the preseason finale on Friday against the Miami Dolphins, but if the Falcons decide they want to roll with Penix as their starter over the struggling Tua Tagovailoa, he should be physically ready after suffering a partially torn left ACL last year. The 26-year-old was the eighth overall pick in 2024 from the University of Washington, and the Falcons are still holding out hope that he is the long-term answer under center. Given how bad Tua has looked this summer, it is looking more plausible that Penix could be named the Week 1 starter despite missing a big chunk of camp while rehabbing his knee. Still, for fantasy purposes, Penix should be viewed as nothing more than a low-end QB2 option in superflex leagues after throwing for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three picks in nine starts in 2025.
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Tua Tagovailoa to Start Friday Against Former Team
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will start Friday night's preseason finale against his former team, the Miami Dolphins, according to Ari Meirov. Tagovailoa spent six seasons in Miami before the Dolphins released him in March, and he landed with Atlanta shortly afterward. His Falcons debut didn't offer much, as he completed three of five passes for 22 yards against Denver. He didn't play in Atlanta's second preseason game. Meanwhile, Michael Penix Jr. has now been cleared for full-team work and rotated with Tagovailoa during first-team periods Monday. Atlanta still hasn't named its Week 1 starter. Tagovailoa is coming off a 2025 season in which he threw for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 14 starts. Friday gives the 28-year-old one more preseason opportunity, this time in a familiar building. The start itself doesn't settle Atlanta's quarterback situation, especially with Penix finally back in the mix.
Source: Ari Meirov
Source: Ari Meirov
Tua Tagovailoa's Play Making it "Impossible" to Earn QB Job
The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says the original goal for the Atlanta Falcons this summer was to have Tua Tagovailoa open the 2026 regular season as the starting quarterback while Michael Penix Jr. (knee) continued to rehab from a torn ACL he suffered last year. Rapoport adds that Tagovailoa's play during training camp and the preseason has made that plan "impossible," and it is now Penix's "job for the taking." Penix returned to team drills for the first time in camp on Monday, and if he plays up to his capabilities, it could create a best-case scenario for the organization that drafted the 26-year-old with the eighth overall pick out of the University of Washington in 2024. Time will tell if Penix can unseat Tua for the Week 1 starting job, but the previous expectation that Tagovailoa would open the year as the Falcons' starter is now out the window. After throwing for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions in nine starts last year, Penix's long- and short-term fantasy value is slowly back on the rise. With that said, he could be on a very short leash if he wins the starting job, and his lengthy injury history makes him a volatile keeper asset.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Kevin Stefanski Not Speculating on Potential Winner of QB Job
Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski is not speculating as to whether quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) will realistically have a chance to win the starting QB job over Tua Tagovailoa, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. "I can't speculate on those types of things," Stefanski said. "I want to really stay in today with Mike and see how he does in practice. I really have to stay in the moment with this one. Let's see how he feels after today." Penix was cleared last week by his surgeon to return to full 11-on-11 practice work, and that happened for the first time in training camp on Monday. After tearing his ACL last year, Penix went 4-for-8 passing on Monday in 11-on-11 drills. He and Tagovailoa are expected to continue splitting first-team reps in practice, and there is still no timetable for Stefanski to name a starter for Week 1 of the regular season. Even though Tagovailoa has not been great this summer, he still figures to be the favorite to start in Week 1. Regardless of who is under center for Atlanta to kick off the regular season, they will be on a short leash and will have minimal upside as a QB2 in two-QB superflex fantasy leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Josh Kendall
Source: The Athletic - Josh Kendall
Falcons Starting QB Job for the Taking for Michael Penix Jr.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) has a chance to win the starting job, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Rapoport said the Falcons' goal was to have veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa start the season right away, but Tagovailoa's lackluster play in training camp and the preseason opens the door for Penix to start. "This is Michael Penix's job for the taking." Penix was the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and completed under 60% of his passes for 2,719 yards, with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions in 12 games. Penix tore his ACL late last season and was recently cleared to participate in 11-on-11 drills at practice. If Penix surges late and Tagovailoa continues to struggle, watch for the Falcons to start the 2026 season with the third-year quarterback.
Source: Ian Rapoport - ESPN/NFL Network
Source: Ian Rapoport - ESPN/NFL Network
Michael Penix Jr. to Take Some First-Team Reps on Monday
Both Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Tua Tagovailoa will take reps with the first-team offense on Monday throughout the entire practice, according to Tori McElhaney of the team's official website. Monday will be the first time this summer that Penix has worked in team drills as a full-go. The Falcons have not officially named a starter in the QB battle during training camp, but Tagovailoa is still the overwhelming favorite to start in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers since he got a head start on Penix during camp. The 26-year-old Penix tore his ACL in Week 11 of last season, and it is unclear if he will be cleared to play in the team's final preseason contest this Friday against the Miami Dolphins. Penix remains off the fantasy radar in single-year, single-QB leagues. In his first two seasons in the NFL, he has completed under 60% of his pass attempts for 2,757 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 14 games played (12 starts). In dynasty/keeper leagues, Penix is a hard sell as a buy-low candidate given his lengthy injury history.
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Tori McElhaney
Michael Penix Jr. Cleared for 11-on-11 Work
ESPN's Marc Raimondi reports that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) has been cleared for 11-on-11 drills. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Penix will practice with the team on Monday. Penix has been recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee that he sustained in Week 11 against the Carolina Panthers last season. This marked Penix's third knee surgery in his career after having two ACL reconstruction surgeries on his right knee in college. The 26-year-old was the QB26 through Week 11 while averaging 13.7 points per game. After struggling in his sophomore season, the Falcons chose to bring in veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to compete for the starting quarterback role. Tagovailoa currently has the upper hand in the competition since Penix has not been cleared to participate in full team drills until now. However, Tagovailoa has had shaky performances in joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts and in his preseason debut against the Denver Broncos that could allow Penix to jump back into the race.
Source: ESPN - Marc Raimondi
Source: ESPN - Marc Raimondi
Michael Penix Jr. Hopes to be Cleared Soon
According to Tori McElhaney, senior reporter for the Atlanta Falcons, Falcons 26-year-old 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. (knee) was asked about his timeline for return and said on July 29 that his doctor wanted to give him four more weeks at that clearance level "before going to the next stage." Throughout this timeframe, Penix has been participating in individual drills, one-on-ones with pass catchers, and seven-on-sevens. Now that we are approaching that four-week mark, Penix is trending towards further conversations with the doctor, in hopes of being cleared soon and competing for the starting role. The Falcons brought in former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year, $1.3 million contract in March, and although Penix has missed valuable camp reps, head coach Kevin Stefanski has not officially named a starting quarterback for the regular season. Penix figures to see the field at some point during the season; however, due to missing some time in camp, Tagovailoa appears to be in the driver's seat. Penix is not on the fantasy radar in one-quarterback leagues, but remains someone to keep an eye on in superflex and dynasty formats. Rotoballer ranks him as the QB36 off the board.
Source: Tori McElhaney
Source: Tori McElhaney
