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Falcons name Tagovailoa as starter vs. Steelers

Tua Tagovailoa

ATL Quarterback #1

Player Stats

Falcons announced Tua Tagovailoa will start in Week 1 against the Steelers.

Despite an up-and-down training camp, Tagovailoa will get the nod as the starter when the Falcons kick off the season on Sunday against the Steelers. Given the fact that Michael Penix Jr. (knee) was still limited at the start of camp, Tagovailoa had long been assumed to have the inside edge on the QB1 job at the start of camp, but Penix was still given a shot to compete for the job despite not being cleared for 11-on-11 practice until August 22. Tagovailoa shouldn’t be counted on in standard 1QB leagues at this point, and fantasy managers looking to add him in 2QB and superflex leagues shouldn’t view him as a long-term solution. It would not be at all surprising if we saw both Tagovailoa and Penix start multiple games for the Falcons this season, with rookie UDFA Jack Stand also being a dark horse to see snaps at some point in the season after an impressive training camp and preseason.

- Zachary Krueger

Source: Tom Pelissero

More Tua Tagovailoa News

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Tua Tagovailoa

ATL Quarterback #1

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Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) will not play in Week 1 against the Steelers.

The oblique injury Tua suffered on Thursday will be enough to sideline him for the season opener. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tagovailoa will be week-to-week with the injury, so his status will be one to monitor when next week’s injury report is released. An up-and-down offseason for the 28-year-old quarterback that started with a back injury and an underwhelming training camp has now snowballed into him missing Week 1 after he was handed the start in large because Michael Penix (knee) wasn’t deemed ready to go just yet. Given the circumstances that led to him being named the starter, it’s safe to say Tua was already on a short leash entering the season. If Penix is able to go in Week 2 against the Panthers, it’s possible Tua’s 2026 debut will be further delayed regardless of his health.
Tua Tagovailoa

ATL Quarterback #1

Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) was not spotted at Friday’s practice.

Tua wasn’t spotted during the portion of practice open to the media, so it’s possible he takes the field later in the day. That said, his absence from practice on Friday wouldn’t bode well for his Week 1 availability after he popped up on Thursday’s injury report with an oblique issue. Veteran Cooper Rush took all first-team snaps for the Falcons on Thursday and would be in line to start on Sunday if Tua is unable to go. We should have an updated injury report soon, which will lay out Tagovailoa’s availability heading into the weekend.
Tua Tagovailoa

ATL Quarterback #1

Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa was added to the injury report with an oblique injury on Thursday.

Tagovailoa was seen grabbing at his back before removing himself from team drills earlier today. It turns out he is dealing with an oblique issue. The media viewing session ended before the Falcons began team drills, so it was unclear whether he rejoined his teammates. Backup QB Cooper Rush later told reporters that he took all first-team reps thereafter. Tagovailoa is now firmly in the questionable column for Week 1.
Tua Tagovailoa

ATL Quarterback #1

The Athletic’s Josh Kendall reports that Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa “appeared to suffer discomfort” while throwing “and briefly went to the ground” on Thursday.

Tagovailoa reportedly “missed the first week of training camp due to lower back spasms.” Perhaps they are still an issue. Tagovailoa grabbed at his back before sitting down. After returning to his feet, he walked off the field and watched his teammates practice for the rest of the media’s viewing period. Tagovailoa is slated to start in Week 1 against the Steelers, though he is only a low-end QB2. The team named QB Cooper Rush as the primary backup in front of QB Jack Strand.
Michael Penix

ATL Quarterback #9

Falcons QB Michael Penix (knee) is practicing in full for Week 1 against the Steelers.

Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski has already said Penix will be inactive this week, so this does not alter Penix’s game status. That said, it is still good to see him practicing fully. The Falcons are rolling with QB Tua Tagovailoa to begin the year, but his starting stint may not last long.
Michael Penix

ATL Quarterback #9

Falcons HC Kevin Stefanski said Michael Penix will be inactive for Week 1 against the Steelers.

Veteran QB Cooper Rush will serve as the Falcons’ QB2 in the season opener. Speaking on Monday with the media, Stefanski declined to put a timeline on when Penix could be ready to take the field, instead saying he is “very confident in the plan” they have for the 26-year-old QB. Earlier, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Falcons wanted to give Penix “a couple more weeks” to prepare for the season, so it wouldn’t be surprising if we are a few weeks away from him dressing for game days.
Michael Penix

ATL Quarterback #9

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Michael Penix “did not believe that he was ready” to play in Week 1 against the Steelers.

Penix was cleared to participate in 11-on-11s back on August 22 and hasn’t logged much practice in camp. As a result, Tua Tagovailoa has been named the starter for the Falcons to kick off Week 1 against the Steelers, buying Penix some additional time to get practice reps and get his knee right before being put in game situations. Rapoport said the Falcons hope to give Penix “a couple more weeks” before playing him, so it wouldn’t be surprising if we saw Tua under center for the first few games of the season before the Falcons consider a switch at the position. Tagovailoa struggled in camp and throughout the preseason and is expected to be on a short leash once Penix is ready to go.
Michael Penix

ATL Quarterback #9

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the Falcons’ starting quarterback decision could be announced “as early as Monday.”

Fowler notes that the official depth chart will be set on Wednesday, so the decision could be delayed by two days. Regardless, media members will surely ask coach Kevin Stefanski about it during Monday’s media session. NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe previously reported that the Falcons plan to start QB Michael Penix (knee) “eventually.” That said, QB Tua Tagovailoa could start a game or two early on.
Michael Penix

ATL Quarterback #9

NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reports the Falcons plan for QB Michael Penix Jr. “to start eventually.”

Wolfe added that head coach Kevin Stefanski does not want “an imaginary timeline” for Penix (knee) returning; the Falcons want to see him practice more and avoid rushing him back. The next week of practices will show if he is ready or if Tua Tagovailoa will be the “placeholder” for Week 1. Tagovailoa’s struggles seem to have made it a foregone conclusion that Penix will start when ready this season as the Falcons evaluate whether or not they will need to draft a quarterback in 2027.
Jack Strand

ATL Quarterback #18

Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said the team is evaluating “all” of its quarterback options ahead of Week 1.

It appears to be careful language in describing how the team is approaching its iffy QB situation ahead of the season opener against the Steelers. Rookie QB Jack Strand, who played well in his preseason appearances, had taken some first-team reps over the past month with Michael Penix (knee) and Tua Tagovailoa struggling with injuries and plagued by poor play. It’s unclear whether Penix will be 100 percent ready for the season opener, while Tagovailoa has been shockingly bad in training camp and during the preseason. Strand is a decent bench stash in deeper superflex formats for now.

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C.J. Stroud

HOU Quarterback #7
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Texans and QB C.J. Stroud will pause contract discussion until after the 2026 season.

The two sides worked diligently to get a deal done before the start of the regular season but will now pause discussions until after the year. Stroud was reportedly offered a substantial deal earlier in the offseason but turned it down, now forced to “bet on himself” as he plays out the final year of his rookie deal, minus the fifth-year option. Stroud has been unable to rekindle his rookie year magic while playing under two different offensive coordinators, something he’s looking to remedy in his second season under Nick Caley.
- Mark Garcia

Source: Adam Schefter

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Cooper Rush

ATL Quarterback #13
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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Falcons QB Cooper Rush experienced back spasms Saturday but is still expected to start in Week 1 against the Steelers.

Rush, the team’s third quarterback that is set to start in relief of both Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr, reportedly experienced discomfort in his back on Saturday, with Schefter adding that he is still expected to start against the Steelers. We don’t know what kind of voodoo is working against the Falcons at present, but the team enters Week 1 with all kinds of uncertainty under center. Penix is presumed to be the starter once healthy, with no telling when that could be as he works his way back from a torn ACL.
- Mark Garcia

Source: Adam Schefter

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Eli Stowers

PHI Tight End #87
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Eagles placed TE Eli Stowers (hamstring, quad) on injured reserve.

Stowers entered his rookie season unlikely to contribute in a meaningful way but will not be forced to miss the next four games, at minimum, while on injured reserve, something that could stunt his growth at the professional level further. Dallas Goedert remains a locked-in TE1 in fantasy circles moving forward.
- Mark Garcia

Transaction

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Kaden Davis

CHI Wide Receiver #80
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Bears elevated WR Kaden Davis for Week 1 against the Panthers.

This wouldn’t be news under normal circumstances but takes on additional meaning with Rome Odunze listed questionable for Week 1. It is of particular note that the Bears already have five wide receivers on the active roster and still chose to elevate another. While recent reports seemed to indicate a sense of optimism regarding Odunze’s potential availability, he could be on the wrong side of questionable given the recent transaction. Fantasy managers will want to confirm his status when the team released its inactives 90-minutes prior to first kick. Luther Burden and Colston Loveland would be in line to benefit greatly should Odunze be unable to go.
- Mark Garcia

Transaction
Rome Odunze

Luther Burden III

Colston Loveland
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Mohamoud Diabate

TEN Linebacker #44
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Titans elevated LB Mohamoud Diabate and S Erick Hallett for Week 1 against the Jets.

Both players could see situational roles in the team’s opening game. They should not be counted on in IDP leagues.
- Mark Garcia

Transaction
Erick Hallett II
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Michael Mayer

LV Tight End #87
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Raiders signed TE Michael Mayer to a three-year, $45 million contract extension.

The deal was first reported by NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. Mayer’s deal includes $30 million guaranteed and his $15 million average annual value is third among tight ends. The Raiders selected Mayer in the second-round (35th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. He had 300 yards as a rookie and the Raiders drafted Brock Bowers 13th overall the following year. Mayer is firmly on the fantasy radar for Week 1 against the Dolphins with Bowers (knee) sidelined, but his value is unstable as the Raiders’ second tight end.
- Nick Shlain

Source: Ian Rapoport

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Tucker Kraft

GB Tight End #85
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Packers signed TE Tucker Kraft to a four-year, $75 million contract extension.

The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Kraft’s deal, which runs through the 2030 season, has a maximum value of $92 million and includes a $26.5 million signing bonus. He’s now the NFL’s highest-paid tight end. Kraft had 32 receptions, 489 yards and six touchdowns before tearing his ACL in Week 9 last year. Not on the injury report for Week 1, Kraft is a surefire TE1 even in a tough matchup against the Vikings defense.
- Nick Shlain

Source: Adam Schefter

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Amon-Ra St. Brown

DET Wide Receiver #14
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Lions restructured the contracts of WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and LT Penei Sewell.

According to Over the Cap, the Lions created $35.68 million in cap space. Detroit is now second in the NFL in cap space with around $38 million, which can either be used this year or carry over to 2027. While a big in-season move could come closer to the trade deadline, Lions GM Brad Holmes recently reiterated the organization’s interest in giving contract extensions, which would begin in 2027, to TE Sam LaPorta and S Brian Branch.
- Nick Shlain

Source: Over the Cap
Penei Sewell
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Malik Davis

DAL Running Back #20
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ESPN’s Todd Archer reports that Cowboys Malik Davis (hip) will have surgery and be placed on injured reserve.

It is unclear whether this is a season-ending injury or if Davis has a chance to return later in the year. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported earlier that the Cowboys were “bracing for an extended absence” and that a source told him, “it’s bad.” It sounds like Davis’ 2026 season may be over. Cowboys RB Emari Demercado now sits behind starting RB Javonte Williams, and RB Israel Abanikanda is on the practice squad.
- Nic Bodiford

Transaction

Source: Todd Archer
Emari Demercado

Israel Abanikanda
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Bryce Young

CAR Quarterback #9
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NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reports that the Panthers will “likely” decide whether to offer QB Bryce Young an extension in the 2027 offseason.

Young has two years remaining on his contract, but is currently eligible for an extension. According to Wolfe, Young needs to improve in three areas. First, Young must check down when it’s the responsible thing to do, in turn elevating his completion rate to the “high 60s, low 70s” range. Second, Young must be comfortable playing with tempo and diverse personnel formations, including WR Tetairoa McMillan lining up in the slot more often. Third, Young must play quickly and decisively. Whether he can accomplish these feats is up in the air. He’s a mid-to-low QB2 for fantasy purposes.
- Nic Bodiford

Source: Cameron Wolfe
Tetairoa McMillan
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