Tua Tagovailoa Named Starting Quarterback for Atlanta Falcons

Tua Tagovailoa has been selected as the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons for their upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This announcement was made on Monday, concluding a competitive period with Michael Penix Jr.

Tagovailoa, who signed a one-year contract worth $1.3 million with Atlanta after being released by the Miami Dolphins, will be the team's Week 1 starter for the fifth consecutive season. Penix faced challenges in the competition due to a previous ACL injury that limited his participation during training.

Both quarterbacks had subpar performances in the previous season, with Tagovailoa earning a PFF grade of 61.7 and Penix a grade of 59.3. Despite this, Tagovailoa demonstrated notable accuracy in his throws during the preseason, completing 10 of 13 passes. Availability remains a concern for both players, as Tagovailoa has only played a full season once in his career, while Penix's injury history is also significant.