Michael Penix Jr. is back, and that changes everything for the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback picture.
What looked like a possible camp battle between Tua Tagovailoa and Penix never really got off the ground. Tagovailoa got the early nod only because Penix wasn’t cleared yet, and once Penix was ready, the job was always trending back in his direction. Now Penix is set to start in Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers, and that makes Tagovailoa’s path to playing time even murkier.
Tagovailoa’s run as the Falcons’ Week 1 starter ended before it ever had a real chance to breathe. An oblique injury two days before the opener pushed him aside, and the door opened for Penix to take over. Cooper Rush’s presence only reinforced how badly Atlanta needs Penix to become the answer under center.
At this point, Tagovailoa looks more like a bridge option than a long-term solution. The Falcons are searching for a franchise quarterback, and Penix is the one with the higher ceiling and the stronger hold on the future. The 2024 first-round pick and former Heisman Trophy runner-up is the guy Atlanta wants to evaluate.
Stefanski said Tagovailoa is "trending in the right direction" to return in Week 3, but that may not change much. Even if he’s healthy, the Falcons appear ready to stick with Penix and let that play out. Unless Penix gets hurt again or falls completely flat, Tagovailoa may not get another crack at the starting job.
That leaves Tagovailoa in a tough spot. He’s not being treated like the answer, and Atlanta isn’t investing in him like one.
The veteran minimum contract says plenty. Penix, by contrast, is the former top-10 pick with time left on his rookie deal after 2026, and the Falcons have every reason to see what they have before turning to another quarterback search in 2027.
For now, the clearest thing about Atlanta’s quarterback situation is this: Penix’s return makes it much harder to see a real path for Tagovailoa to start a game for the Falcons.
In Other News...
Falcons Suddenly Head Into Packers Game With A Very Different Look
Thursday night brings a different kind of test for Atlanta as it heads to Green Bay with Michael Penix Jr. set to start for the Falcons. Around the league, injuries are already reshaping Week 3, with quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart among the players expected to miss games, while teams such as the Colts, Panthers and Saints have also been forced to shuffle their rosters with players landing on injured reserve.
For Atlanta, the challenge is more immediate and a little more local, since the games injury reports have already thinned out the available options on both sides of the ball. With several players listed as out or questionable, the Falcons are headed into a short-week prime-time matchup carrying a very different look than the one they might have expected a few days ago, and how that list settles before kickoff could matter just as much as the quarterback change. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons May Finally Have The QB Depth They Need Vs Packers
The Falcons are getting a little healthier behind center at a time when they could use the insurance. Michael Penix Jr. has been named the starter for the upcoming game, and Kevin Stefanski said Tua Tagovailoa is trending in the right direction to be available as the backup in Week 3 after missing the first two games with an oblique injury. It is a notable shift from the opening stretch, when Cooper Rush filled the backup role.
For Atlanta, the timing matters as much as the depth chart. Having a second quarterback available changes the feel of game day for a team that wants more stability at the position, especially with Penix set to take over under center. The final check on Tagovailoa still matters, but the Falcons are at least moving toward a cleaner setup than they had to start the season. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Are Betting Nick Folk Can Stop A Bigger Problem
The Falcons are sticking with Nick Folk for now, even after the veteran kicker missed field goals in each of the first two games of the 2026 season. Special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman said the focus remains on Folks experience and the basics, with the team preferring to work through the issue by tightening up fundamentals and technique rather than making a change this early.
For Atlanta, the decision is as much about stability as it is about faith in a proven kicker. The next step is giving Folk a chance to settle back into his rhythm as the Falcons turn their attention to the Green Bay Packers, where every point could matter if the kicking game remains in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]