Falcons Yet to Name Week 1 Starting Quarterback as Penix Returns to Practice

Atlanta coach Arthur Stefanski said he is waiting to see how quarterback Michael Penix performs in practice before deciding who will start the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Penix, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November, was cleared for 11-on-11 drills this week and completed four of eight pass attempts, though two throws were described as short by a reporter from The Athletic.

Tagovailoa, who has been the presumed starter, has faced criticism for his preseason performance, including a fumble in a recent game. NFL Network analyst Ian Rapoport noted that Tagovailoa’s play in training camp and the preseason has made it difficult for the team to name him the Week 1 starter.

Stefanski declined to speculate on the quarterback competition, stating, "I want to really stay in the moment with Mike and see how he does in practice. Let's see how he feels after today." He added that the starters will receive a series of about ten plays in the opening game, but he did not name a specific quarterback.

Fantasy analysts have suggested that Penix could become the primary option later in the season, but the coach indicated that a decision will likely be made closer to the game against the Steelers. The Falcons remain one of the last teams in the league to announce their Week 1 starting quarterback.