The Falcons are set to get a notable boost at quarterback in Week 3, with Tua Tagovailoa trending toward serving as the backup for Thursday night’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
Atlanta opened the season with Cooper Rush starting in Weeks 1 and 2, while undrafted free agent Jack Strand handled backup duties. Michael Penix Jr. was not available for those first two games, and Tagovailoa was sidelined as well after suffering an oblique injury in practice.
That could be changing now. Marc Raimondi of ESPN reported Wednesday that Kevin Stefanski said Tagovailoa is “trending in the right direction” to back up Penix against Green Bay.
Penix has already been named the starter for Thursday Night Football, but the possible return of Tagovailoa gives Atlanta a different look behind him. Instead of turning to Rush again if something happens, the Falcons appear likely to have Tagovailoa ready as the next option.
There’s also a clear stylistic fit there. With Penix a left-handed quarterback, having another lefty behind him adds a bit of continuity. More importantly, Tagovailoa brings a higher ceiling than Rush, which matters after what Atlanta saw over the first two weeks.
Tagovailoa’s camp and preseason showing came with real questions, but the Falcons’ early-season quarterback situation has only made his potential return look more valuable. After starting 0-2 without Penix and Tagovailoa, Atlanta enters a key Thursday game with both of its left-handed quarterbacks potentially available, as long as Tagovailoa keeps trending the right way.
In Other News...
Falcons QB Mess Just Sparked A Wild Veteran Debate
The quarterback picture in Atlanta has already turned into one of the leagues early talking points this season, with Tua Tagovailoa sidelined by injury and Cooper Rush having a rough opening stretch in the first two games. For a team trying to settle its offense before the schedule gets any tougher, the uncertainty under center has become impossible to ignore.
Robert Griffin III poured fuel on the conversation with a public critique of the situation, then floated a list of veteran free agents he believes could bring some stability, including himself, Cam Newton, Jimmy Garoppolo and Ryan Tannehill. Griffins name is the one that sent social media into overdrive, even though he has not appeared in a regular-season game since 2020, and the debate now says as much about Atlantas quarterback frustration as it does about any actual reunion talk. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Offense May Finally Get The Jolt Its Core Needs
After a rocky opening to the 2026 season, the Falcons are getting close to a much-needed reset under center. Michael Penix Jr. is expected back as the starter in Week 3, a development that could finally give Atlantas offense a steadier rhythm after Cooper Rush was forced into early action and struggled to move the group consistently.
That matters because this is not a roster short on core talent. Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts are all locked in on long-term contracts, giving Atlanta a foundation worth building around if the quarterback play stabilizes. Even with Penix's return offering some hope, the bigger picture still points toward 2027, when the Falcons may need to find their long-term answer at quarterback for good. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Face A Bigger QB Problem Than Just Cooper Rush
Cooper Rushs two starts have already pushed the Falcons into an uncomfortable spot at quarterback. Since stepping in because of injuries elsewhere on the depth chart, he has managed only one touchdown against four interceptions, and the benching in Week 2 made it clear the team is not getting the kind of control it needs from the position. More than the numbers, the concern is how much the offense has had to shrink around him, with the coaching staff appearing to trim the playbook rather than ask him to do too much.
The bigger issue is what comes next if Atlanta keeps looking for stability under center. Rushs struggles are not just a short-term problem for the Falcons, they may also ripple beyond their own building by changing how teams view veteran quarterbacks with a similar skill set. If Atlanta cannot get cleaner play from the position soon, the conversation will shift from one backup filling in to whether the Falcons have to rethink the entire way theyre managing the quarterback room. [Read more 🡒]