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The Atlanta Falcons may not have named a starting quarterback yet, but they have made one thing clear: they don't plan on letting the competition drag into the regular season.
Quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt recently said he'd like to have Atlanta's starter decided "weeks" before the Falcons open the season on Sept. 13. With training camp beginning on July 29, that gives both Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. roughly a month to prove they deserve the job.
That timeline is significant.
Rather than allowing the battle to play out through every preseason game, Atlanta appears committed to finding its quarterback early. That gives the starter valuable first-team reps, allows the offense to build chemistry, and gives Kevin Stefanski's new coaching staff time to install its offense around one signal-caller fully.
With the way the summer has gone so far, Tua Tagovailoa is likely the favorite.
Not only does he fit Kevin Stefanski's offensive scheme, but the Falcons new head coach has consistently emphasized accuracy throughout his coaching career, and that's been one of Tagovailoa's biggest strengths.
Tua is clearly coming off the worst season in his career, recording 15 interceptions, and some head injuries in the past are probably not helping the overall situation, but when he is healthy, he has only shown that he can lead an efficient offense, one that has created multiple league-leading receivers.
He isn't the only one whose health plays a role, however, as Penix continues to work his way back from the ACL injury that ended his 2025 season. He wasn't a full participant during OTAs and minicamp, and every missed practice matters in a competition with a relatively short evaluation window.
Even if Van Pelt stated that the competition truly hasn't started yet, it's impossible to actually believe that's true given the circumstances.
If Penix isn't fully available when training camp opens, he'll have less time to earn first-team reps, something that Tua has already grown accustomed to with his new team this summer.
Let's be clear, though, that doesn't mean the battle is over.
As mentioned earlier, Tagovailoa has his own questions to answer after an inconsistent season and a career that's been impacted by injuries. Penix remains one of Atlanta's most talented young players, and the Falcons utilized a very questionable first-round pick to acquire him when an expensive quarterback was already on the roster. The Falcons still need to determine whether he can become their long-term answer at quarterback.
Even if Tagovailoa wins the Week 1 job, it wouldn't be surprising if Penix starts games later this season. However, that might lead to a disaster that likely ends with Atlanta missing the postseason. Between Tagovailoa's injury history and the Falcons' need to evaluate their former first-round pick, this quarterback story likely won't end once the opening-day starter is announced.
Atlanta may be preparing to make an early decision, but the competition itself could continue well into the 2026 season.
Continue reading...
Quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt recently said he'd like to have Atlanta's starter decided "weeks" before the Falcons open the season on Sept. 13. With training camp beginning on July 29, that gives both Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. roughly a month to prove they deserve the job.
That timeline is significant.
Rather than allowing the battle to play out through every preseason game, Atlanta appears committed to finding its quarterback early. That gives the starter valuable first-team reps, allows the offense to build chemistry, and gives Kevin Stefanski's new coaching staff time to install its offense around one signal-caller fully.
With the way the summer has gone so far, Tua Tagovailoa is likely the favorite.
Not only does he fit Kevin Stefanski's offensive scheme, but the Falcons new head coach has consistently emphasized accuracy throughout his coaching career, and that's been one of Tagovailoa's biggest strengths.
Tua is clearly coming off the worst season in his career, recording 15 interceptions, and some head injuries in the past are probably not helping the overall situation, but when he is healthy, he has only shown that he can lead an efficient offense, one that has created multiple league-leading receivers.
He isn't the only one whose health plays a role, however, as Penix continues to work his way back from the ACL injury that ended his 2025 season. He wasn't a full participant during OTAs and minicamp, and every missed practice matters in a competition with a relatively short evaluation window.
Even if Van Pelt stated that the competition truly hasn't started yet, it's impossible to actually believe that's true given the circumstances.
If Penix isn't fully available when training camp opens, he'll have less time to earn first-team reps, something that Tua has already grown accustomed to with his new team this summer.
Let's be clear, though, that doesn't mean the battle is over.
As mentioned earlier, Tagovailoa has his own questions to answer after an inconsistent season and a career that's been impacted by injuries. Penix remains one of Atlanta's most talented young players, and the Falcons utilized a very questionable first-round pick to acquire him when an expensive quarterback was already on the roster. The Falcons still need to determine whether he can become their long-term answer at quarterback.
Even if Tagovailoa wins the Week 1 job, it wouldn't be surprising if Penix starts games later this season. However, that might lead to a disaster that likely ends with Atlanta missing the postseason. Between Tagovailoa's injury history and the Falcons' need to evaluate their former first-round pick, this quarterback story likely won't end once the opening-day starter is announced.
Atlanta may be preparing to make an early decision, but the competition itself could continue well into the 2026 season.
Continue reading...
