The Atlanta Falcons still don’t have a clear answer at quarterback heading into 2026, and that uncertainty hangs over a Week 1 road trip to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 13.
That opener matters because the Steelers have long been known as one of the league’s toughest pass-rushing teams, which makes the Falcons’ QB decision all the more important. For now, though, there’s no official signal from the organization about which direction it’s leaning.
So the speculation falls to the people closest to the team. Josh Kendall of The Athletic was asked in a recent mailbag who he thinks will start in Week 1, and he made it clear he isn’t claiming certainty. Still, he landed on Tua Tagovailoa, pointing to health and accuracy as the biggest reasons.
"I sincerely don’t know, and I don’t think anybody does at the moment. This is a legitimate competition.
With that caveat out of the way, if you’re making me pick right now, I’m picking Tagovailoa... Stefanski has been very clear about how much he values accuracy, and Tagovailoa has been much better over the course of his career.
Health is also a major factor. We don’t know if Penix will be cleared for full activity at the beginning of training camp, and any time he loses could be costly."
That lines up with the view that Tagovailoa has had the better offseason runway so far. He’s taken every meaningful rep in 11-on-11 drills, which should give him a stronger working rhythm with Atlanta’s pass-catchers than Penix has right now.
If Penix wins the job, it would likely come down to traits that Tagovailoa simply doesn’t match. Penix brings the bigger arm, more zip, and the ability to push the ball farther downfield. He’ll need to dial back some of that power and add more touch, but the raw throwing talent is obvious.
In Other News...
Falcons Camp Battle Could Elevate One Receiver Nobody Saw Coming
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One of the more interesting names in that mix is Vinny Anthony II, the undrafted rookie trying to carve out a roster spot in a crowded field. His path is not just about catching passes, either, because Atlanta could use help on special teams and Anthony brings kick return experience that gives him a different kind of value as camp opens, while the teams decision to put real money behind his signing suggests he is not just another body in the room. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Fans Just Got Another Risky Pass Rush Proposal
The Falcons have the cap room to chase help off the edge, and that alone has kept the door open to all kinds of speculation about how aggressive they might get before training camp. But the bigger question is whether Atlanta should spend real draft capital on a pass rusher whose production has been uneven and whose best seasons have not yet matched the hype that followed him into the league.
There is also the timing to consider, since any deal for a player in a contract year can quickly turn into a second decision about whether to hand out a major extension right away. For a team trying to balance urgency with patience, that makes a splashy move feel a lot riskier than a series of smaller additions, and the Falcons seem more likely to take the quieter route unless the right opportunity opens up. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Rookie Zachariah Branch Finally Addressed That Viral 26 MPH Clip
Zachariah Branch has spent much of his football life being defined by speed, and the Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver finally had a chance to speak directly about the viral treadmill clip that made the rounds long before he got to the league. The image of him flying on an overspeed treadmill became part of his public profile, but Branchs background already pointed that way, from his days as a high school track runner to the kind of burst that helped him post a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
For the Falcons, the bigger point is that the clip was never just a social media novelty. Branch has continued to train at eye-catching speeds as he prepares for camp, and Atlanta is planning to use him as both a receiver and a return man. In a league that never stops chasing speed, Branchs challenge now is turning the fascination around his wheels into a role that matters once the games start. [Read more 🡒]