The Atlanta Falcons have nine days left before they kick off against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 13. Yet, the team still has not named a starting quarterback. General Manager Ian Cunningham said “not yet” when asked if the choice between Michael Penix and Tua Tagovailoa is final per NBC Sports. This silence feels loud to fans who remember the pain of 28-3. The delay is not a mistake. It is a calculated risk to find the right leader for the new era.
According to reports, Penix cleared full football activities just over a week after recovering from a torn ACL. He did not play in the final preseason game because the team decided he was not ready. Tagovailoa dealt with a back injury early in camp, which made his evaluation tricky. The Falcons need to see both men perform at a high level before handing over the keys. Cunningham informed reporters that all four quarterbacks need to show more.
Why Keep Four Signal-Callers?
Most teams cut down to three quarterbacks by now. The Falcons kept four on their initial 53-man roster. This includes veteran Jack Strand and Cooper Rush, who earned their spots with extended looks over the summer. Cunningham called this depth “a little bit of an insurance policy.” It is smart business. If Penix gets hurt, or if Tagovailoa struggles, the team has options ready to go. Strand and Rush are there to stabilize the offense if things go wrong.
The competition is real. Penix is the former top-10 pick who worked hard to get back to 11-on-11 drills. Tagovailoa brings experience but carries injury risks from a rough summer. Cunningham praised Penix’s effort, saying, “For him to be where he’s at, it shows because he’s been working his tail off to get to this point” per Yahoo Sports. The staff put a plan in place to get him ready. Now they need to see if he can execute it under pressure.
No Rush to Pick a Winner
Patience is the name of the game. Cunningham admitted the debate has been ongoing for a long time. “We all talk about it. Blogging Dirty quoted him saying, “We all have been talking about it forever.” The GM will not force a decision before the team is sure. He emphasized that the coaches and players must be ready first. “Ultimately, when the coaches are ready, when the players are ready, we will make that decision, he stated.
Fans want answers now. But the Falcons will not guess their way into Week 1. “When it comes time to make the decision, we’ll let you know,” Cunningham promised. The team wants to see more from Michael Penix Jr. in full practices before locking in the starter. They also want to see more from Tua Tagovailoa to ensure he is healthy and sharp. The final call will be made when the data is clear. Until then, the competition stays open.
