Tua Tagovailoa Will Start Falcons Preseason Opener, But Week 1 QB Still Unclear

The Atlanta Falcons person their QB1, for now.  

Tua Tagovailoa volition commencement astatine backmost Friday for the Falcons successful their preseason opener against the Denver Broncos connected Friday, caput manager Kevin Stefanski announced Wednesday. However, Stefanski made wide that the determination applies strictly to the preseason opener and does not found Tagovailoa arsenic the starter for Week 1. 

"We're conscionable present entering Week 1 of the preseason with this crippled connected Friday night. Obviously, Tua is going to play successful that game, and I deliberation that's large to get crippled enactment with our guys," Stefanski told NFL Network.

The remainder of the Falcons' starters volition play connected Friday, but volition lone play a bid oregon astir 10 plays, Stefanski added successful comments to reporters. Tagovailoa volition start, past Cooper Rush volition rotate successful afterwards and past let Jack Strand to decorativeness the game. 

As for Michael Penix Jr., he's not yet cleared for afloat 11-on-11 enactment arsenic helium continues to rehab from an ACL tear. But he's expected to play a relation successful the Falcons' backmost contention erstwhile he's healthy. 

Michael Penix is inactive rehabbing from an ACL teardrop and won't beryllium disposable to play for the Falcons successful their preseason opener. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

"Specifically to the backmost presumption for Penix and Tua, this was learning a caller strategy for our guys," Stefanski said. "So laying the instauration of the caller system, knowing that erstwhile you get to grooming camp, present it's astir truly gathering done your installs, uncovering retired what your players bash best."

Stefanski emphasized that naming a regular play starter volition necessitate much unrecorded crippled reps and pointed to upcoming associated practices with the Indianapolis Colts arsenic different accidental for some quarterbacks to abstracted themselves.

"From a mentation standpoint, these guys are connected apical of it, learning the caller system, knowing what's important connected each fixed play," Stefanski said. "So I'm precise pleased with wherever we are. I conscionable cognize successful the calendar wherever we are. We're not determination yet successful presumption of naming idiosyncratic a starter."

The Falcons unfastened their regular play docket Sept. 13 connected the roadworthy against the Pittsburgh Steelers.