Falcons select Tua Tagovailoa as Week 1 starter; Michael Penix Jr. will be inactive vs. Steelers
- The Atlanta Falcons announced Monday that Tua Tagovailoa has been selected as the starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Michael Penix Jr., who started nine games for the Falcons in 2025 before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in November, will be inactive for the Week 1 game.
- Cooper Rush will serve as the backup quarterback, and coach Kevin Stefanski declined to speculate on the starting quarterback beyond Week 1.
- Tagovailoa received more reps throughout training camp, while Penix was cleared for 11-on-11 drills on August 22 but did not appear in any preseason games.
- Penix stated he wants to be stronger and ensure he can give the team 100% before returning to play, though he indicated he is 'really close' to being ready.
- Tagovailoa signed a one-year deal with the Falcons in March after six seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
The Atlanta Falcons announced Monday that Tua Tagovailoa has been selected as the starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The decision comes after a monthslong competition with Michael Penix Jr., who started nine games for the Falcons in 2025 before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in November. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Cooper Rush will back up Tagovailoa and Penix will be inactive.
Tagovailoa received more reps throughout training camp, while Penix was cleared for 11-on-11 drills on August 22 but did not appear in any preseason games. Stefanski noted that while Penix was given opportunities in practices, the team felt strongly about the decision based on all available information. Penix acknowledged that Stefanski met with both quarterbacks when making the selection, and indicated he is working toward being fully ready, stating he wants to be stronger and ensure he can give the team 100% effort.
Tagovailoa started the Falcons' first and final preseason games, going 7 of 8 for 95 yards in three drives against his former team, the Miami Dolphins, in the third exhibition game. The Falcons won that game 17-12. Tagovailoa signed a one-year deal with the Falcons in March following a six-year stint with the Dolphins, where Miami is now responsible for a $99.2 million dead cap hit over the next two seasons.
猎鹰队选择图阿·塔戈瓦伊洛亚为第1周先发四分卫；彼得鲁斯将对阵钢人队时不活跃
亚特兰大猎鹰队周一宣布，图阿·塔戈瓦伊洛亚被选为第1周对阵匹兹堡钢人队的先发四分卫。这一决定是在他与迈克尔·彼得鲁斯进行了数月竞争后做出的。彼得鲁斯在2025赛季为猎鹰队先发9场比赛后，于11月遭遇赛季报销的前交叉韧带撕裂。主教练凯文·斯特凡斯基周一表示，库珀·拉什将担任塔戈瓦伊洛亚的替补，彼得鲁斯将不活跃。
塔戈瓦伊洛亚在整个训练营中获得了更多的出场机会，而彼得鲁斯在8月22日被清除参加11对11对抗，但未在任何季前赛中出场。斯特凡斯基指出，尽管彼得鲁斯在训练中获得了机会，但球队基于所有可用信息对这一决定充满信心。彼得鲁斯承认斯特凡斯基在做出选择时与两位四分卫都进行了会面，并表示他正在努力做好充分准备，希望变得更强壮，确保自己能够为球队付出100%的努力。
塔戈瓦伊洛亚在猎鹰队的第一场和最后一场季前赛中先发，在第三场热身赛中对阵他的前东家迈阿密海豚队时，在三次进攻中完成7次传球，共95码。猎鹰队以17-12赢得了那场比赛。塔戈瓦伊洛亚在3月与猎鹰队签订了一份为期一年的合同，此前在海豚队效力了六个赛季，迈阿密现在需要在未来两个赛季承担9920万美元的死亡帽。