Falcons Announce Michael Penix Jr.'s Inactive Status for Week 1

The Atlanta Falcons have officially announced that Michael Penix Jr. will not participate in their Week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tua Tagovailoa has been named the starting quarterback, as confirmed by head coach Kevin Stefanski.

This decision comes after Penix spent the offseason recovering from an ACL injury that prematurely ended his 2025 season. He did not play during the preseason, raising concerns about his readiness to start.

Cooper Rush will serve as the backup quarterback for Tagovailoa. The Falcons' choice to name Tagovailoa as the starter appears to be influenced by Penix's ongoing recovery, indicating that the team is still awaiting his return to full health.