There is a quarterback competition brewing in Atlanta.
After signing Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year, $1.3 million deal this week, Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said Friday that the plan is for the veteran signal-caller to compete for the starting job with Michael Penix Jr.
“For Tua coming in here, he knows he’s coming in to compete,” Cunningham said during a press conference. “Just like Michael knows that he’s coming in to compete and everybody, quite frankly — not just those two at the quarterback position — but everybody’s coming in to compete.”
Penix, the No. 8 overall pick by Atlanta in 2024, is recovering from an ACL tear he suffered in November, although there’s hope he can return before the start of the 2026 season.
Both he and Tagovailoa, who was released by the Dolphins earlier this week after six seasons with the franchise, were told of the team’s QB plans by the new regime of Cunningham, president of football Matt Ryan, and head coach Kevin Stefanski, before the signing.
“You don’t want to blindside somebody, and that’s just how we operate,” Cunningham said. “We want to have open conversations and communication, and I feel like we did that in regards to Michael and Tua.”
Injuries aside, Penix has looked less than stellar when on the field, throwing for 2,757 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions in 14 appearances while going 4-8 as a starter.
The Falcons cleaned house after going 8-9 last season and falling short of the playoffs in the weak NFC South.
Atlanta has missed the postseason in eight straight seasons, which is the second-longest streak in the NFL.
The Falcons also added wide receivers Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson and tight end Austin Hooper, among others, this offseason to shore up their offense.
