The Atlanta Falcons will start Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback for Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers following a training camp battle with Michael Penix Jr., the team announced.
Tagovailoa, who signed with the Falcons in March after his release by the Miami Dolphins, led the Atlanta offense throughout most of training camp as Penix recovered from ACL surgery.
"(I) feel strongly about our decision due to all of the information available to us," head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday about his QB decision, according to team reporter Will McFadden.
Penix did not feature in the preseason and was not cleared for full team activities until late in camp. Stefanski said that Penix will be inactive Sunday against the Steelers. Cooper Rush will serve as Tagovailoa's backup.
"Mike is getting better and better. Proud of how far he's come," Stefanski added, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network and ESPN.
Tagovailoa started two of the Falcons' three preseason games, completing 10 of 13 pass attempts for 117 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
The former Dolphin's one-year contract in Atlanta is worth approximately $1.3 million, with Miami still owing him about $54 million in guaranteed salary from his previous deal. Tagovailoa will cost the Dolphins an NFL-record $99.2 million in dead money against the salary cap.
