What Falcons Gm Said About Tua Tagovailoa-michael Penix Jr. Starting Qb Battle

One of the more fascinating quarterback competitions this season will take place in Atlanta.

The Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year deal this week after he was released by the Miami Dolphins. Tagovailoa’s one-year pact didn’t come with assurance that he will be anointed starter by the Falcons.

Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham told reporters on Friday that Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. will compete to be QB1.

“We’re not in the business of really handing out starting positions in February or in March. For Tua, he knows he’s coming in here to compete. Like Michael knows he’s coming in to compete. Everybody quite frankly, not just those two at the quarterback position,” Cunningham said. “There are no starters right now.”

Cunningham told reporters he informed Penix that the Falcons were pursuing Tagovailoa prior to the deal being finalized. The Falcons also released veteran QB Kirk Cousins.

“You don’t want to blindside somebody and that’s just how we operate. We want to have open conversations and communication,” Cunningham said. “We feel like we did that in regards to Michael and Tua.”

Based on both their recent performances, there isn’t a clear-cut favorite.

Tagovailoa tossed a career-worst 15 interceptions last year, was benched by the Dolphins and has a concerning concussion history.

Penix had an up-and-down 2025. He has a concerning history of knee injuries, including a torn ACL in Week 11, an injury he’s still recovering from.

Tagovailoa does provide more experience. The fifth overall pick in the 2020 draft has thrown 120 touchdowns, 59 interceptions and has a 96.4 passer rating in 76 career starts.

Penix is still a relative unknown because he's only started 12 games in his career. The eighth overall pick in the 2024 draft has averaged 196 passing yards per game, to go with a 59% completion percentage and a 85.8 passer rating.

It's worth noting, new Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski, president of football Matt Ryan and Cunningham chose Tagovailoa in free agency after inheriting Penix from the old regime. That might give Tagovailoa a slight edge, but Cunningham maintained that Penix still has a chance to beat Tagovailoa out.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. start for Falcons? GM gives update