Tua Tagovailoa will get the first opportunity to lead the Atlanta Falcons at quarterback in game action.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski announced Wednesday that Tagovailoa will start Friday night’s preseason opener against the Denver Broncos, giving the veteran quarterback his first chance to take the field in a Falcons uniform.
Tagovailoa’s start comes as Atlanta continues to evaluate its quarterback situation entering the 2026 season. Michael Penix Jr. remains in the mix for the starting job, but his participation in training camp has been limited as he works toward full medical clearance. So far, he’s just been limited to seven-on-seven action with no team drills.
Meanwhile, Tagovailoa has steadily increased his workload and delivered one of his strongest practices of camp Tuesday, completing 7-of-8 passes during 11-on-11 work and adding a touchdown during seven-on-seven period.
The Falcons are expected to give Tagovailoa a chance to establish a rhythm before turning to Cooper Rush and rookie Jack Strand. While Friday’s preseason game against Denver will not determine the regular-season starter by itself, Tagovailoa’s performance will be closely watched as he competes for the QB1 role. The matchup marks the beginning of a new chapter for the former Dolphins quarterback and provides Falcons fans with their first opportunity to see him in live game action.
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