Falcons, Tua Tagovailoa announcement comes with big caveat

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Falcons, Tua Tagovailoa announcement comes with big caveat

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Sep 7, 2026 9:16 AM ET

After months of speculation, the Atlanta Falcons are finally rolling with Tua Tagovailoa.

The team announced that the former Miami Dolphins star will get the nod to start in Week 1 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers, even after a dismal training camp and preseason. Notably, that speaks more about Michael Penix Jr.'s health than about Tagovailoa's performance.

And, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the Alabama product might only be a placeholder, as Penix is still likely to reclaim the starting spot at some point in the season.

Tua Tagovailoa isn't a long-term answer for the Falcons

"Michael Penix tore his ACL last November and wasn’t cleared for 11-on-11 work until Aug. 22. His turn likely is coming this season, but for now, the Falcons are going with Tua Tagovailoa," Schefter wrote.

Michael Penix tore his ACL last November and wasn’t cleared for 11-on-11 work until Aug. 22. His turn likely is coming this season, but for now, the Falcons are going with Tua Tagovailoa. https://t.co/y2kbWxiwPS
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 7, 2026

This makes sense. Tagovailoa struggled in his final season with the Dolphins, and he didn't look the part in limited preseason action. After all the big hits, injuries and concussions, expecting him to be a starting-caliber quarterback might be a tall ask for the former first-round pick.

Penix suffered a season-ending injury and was always a long shot to be ready for the season opener. He's also been somewhat underwhelming when healthy, but the Falcons remain committed to him as their starter for the future, as they should, given that he was also a first-round selection just a couple of years ago.

Regardless, he'll never break out if he can't stay on the field, so it might not be long before the Falcons are back in the quarterback market.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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