The Atlanta Falcons are closing in on their quarterback call, but the answer still isn’t in. With every other NFL team already set at the position, Atlanta is the lone holdout heading into Week 1, and the decision appears to be narrowing to one simple question: is Michael Penix Jr. ready?
That’s the way NFL insider Ian Rapoport framed it on NFL Network, where he said the Falcons’ choice comes down to Penix’s readiness and whether he can handle game action right now. Rapoport also suggested that if Tua Tagovailoa gets the nod for next Sunday’s matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he could be on a “short leash” because of Penix’s health status and the possibility that Atlanta could turn to the younger quarterback quickly if things go sideways.
"This is a decision where you would have hoped for the Atlanta Falcons that this one would be easy," Rapoport said on NFL Network. "Tua would have played totally fine, very solid, veteran presence. Go out there, hold it down until Michael Penix Jr. is ready.
"The Falcons are left in a little bit of limbo right here. You have Tua, who again, played OK.
Michael Penix Jr. is just kinda getting started. If he felt like he was ready to go, if he could get out there and be in a game situation, then it's pretty clear to me, he would be the starter.
"He's not there yet, and they are in a holding pattern for when Michael Penix Jr. will be ready."
Tagovailoa hasn’t locked the job down, but he has given Atlanta something to weigh. In the preseason, he went 10 of 13 for 117 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions, good for a 103.7 passer rating across two appearances. He opened with a quiet 3-of-5, 22-yard outing against Denver, then followed it up by completing 7 of 8 passes for 95 yards against his former team in Miami.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski has handled the situation carefully, sticking to a patient tone when asked about Penix. He has praised the quarterback’s progress while also stressing the need for him to get back into football activities and continue building himself up before the team makes a full evaluation.
A call could come as soon as Monday, when Stefanski is set to speak to the media. Still, that doesn’t mean the Falcons have to announce anything right away. If they want more information before settling on their starter against the Steelers, they can wait.
And even if Stefanski names Tagovailoa as the starter for Week 1, that would not necessarily lock Atlanta into anything beyond that game.
For fans, the uncertainty has only added fuel to the debate. Every update involving Tagovailoa and Penix has kept the conversation rolling, with supporters split between the veteran’s steadiness and the upside of the quarterback Atlanta drafted as its long-term answer.
Now the wait is almost over. After months of speculation, the Falcons are finally nearing the moment where they have to choose. According to Rapoport, Penix’s health may be the key piece that decides who gets the first crack at the job - at least for now.
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