Tua Tagovailoa gets the first real shot at Atlanta's QB1 job
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HEAT SCORE
HEAT
9
High-profile quarterback battle + official preseason start + Penix still limited + objective Week 1 starter resolution
Tua Tagovailoa has received the first major game-day opportunity in Atlanta's quarterback competition. Head coach Kevin Stefanski named Tagovailoa the starter for Friday's preseason opener against Denver, while Michael Penix Jr. continues working back from ACL surgery and has not yet been fully cleared for 11-on-11 drills. Atlanta plans to give its starters a limited number of snaps, giving Tua the first preseason opportunity to operate the Falcons' new offense. Stefanski has emphasized that the regular-season starting job has not been decided, leaving Week 1 as the objective resolution point.
Source: Reuters · Aug 13, 2026 · Read original →
Corroborating: Reuters reported that Kevin Stefanski named Tagovailoa the starter for Atlanta's preseason opener while stressing that no regular-season QB1 has been chosen. Penix remains limited in his return from ACL surgery and has not been fully cleared for 11-on-11 work.
Corroborating: Reuters reported that Kevin Stefanski named Tagovailoa the starter for Atlanta's preseason opener while stressing that no regular-season QB1 has been chosen. Penix remains limited in his return from ACL surgery and has not been fully cleared for 11-on-11 work.
👇 Will Tua Tagovailoa start Week 1 for the Falcons?
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