Falcons announce Tua Tagovailoa will start preseason opener
Atlanta head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tua Tagovailoa will start the preseason game against Denver, but the regular-season starter has not been decided.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is slated to start the team's preseason opener on Friday night against the Denver Broncos, coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Wednesday. Stefanski cautioned that the decision does not lock in the Week 1 starter, adding that the regular-season quarterback will be chosen later.
The Falcons will travel to Pittsburgh for their first regular-season matchup on Sept. 13. Third-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. remains unavailable for full-team practices, and the coaching staff plans to rotate quarterbacks during the preseason game. After Tagovailoa's first series, veteran Cooper Rush will take over, followed by undrafted rookie Jack Strand to finish the contest.
Stefanski said the coaching staff expects a "simple game plan" and will rely on offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to call plays, as he will throughout the season. > "We're not there to name a starter for Week 1," he said. > "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."