Tua Tagovailoa will get the nod in the Atlanta Falcons’ preseason finale against the Miami Dolphins on Friday night, while Michael Penix Jr. stays out of game action as the quarterback battle rolls on.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski made the call Wednesday, and he said the rest of the offensive starters will be on the field too, with wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson among them.
Penix has been back in 11-on-11 work at practice after being medically cleared on Saturday, but Stefanski said he still won’t play in the finale. The bigger question remains the same one hanging over the Falcons’ quarterback situation: who opens Week 1? Stefanski hasn’t said when he’ll name a starter, and he told reporters it’s still unclear whether Penix will be healthy enough to play in Week 1.
Penix’s path back has been shaped by the torn ACL he suffered last November after starting nine games for Atlanta. The 2024 first-round pick went 3-6, threw for 1,982 yards, and finished with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. Among 33 qualifying quarterbacks in 2025, TruMedia ranked him 24th in passer rating and 30th in completion percentage.
Tagovailoa, meanwhile, already took the field in the first preseason game and completed 3 of 5 passes for 22 yards. He joined Atlanta on a one-year deal in the offseason after being released by the Miami Dolphins. In 2025, he was benched for the final three games and finished 26th in EPA/dropback while also throwing the second-most interceptions in the league with 15.
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From Atlantas perspective, the connection is easy to see, even if nothing is imminent. The Falcons have been mentioned among several possible destinations, alongside the 49ers, Titans, Giants and Eagles, and that keeps this from feeling like a random name being floated for clicks. Whether Chicago actually moves Dexter will determine how far the interest goes, but the fit is enough to make the speculation feel a lot more grounded than most early-season trade chatter. [Read more 🡒]