Nine days. That’s all the Atlanta Falcons have left before they roll out against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 13, and guess what? They still haven’t named a starting quarterback. General Manager Ian Cunningham hit reporters with a simple “not yet” when asked if Michael Penix or Tua Tagovailoa had won the job, and man, that silence screams volumes. This isn’t some rookie mistake, though. Cunningham says it’s a calculated risk, a gamble to find the absolute right guy to lead this team into a new era. Brutal, but maybe necessary.
The QB Room Is Still a Minefield
So, why the delay? It’s a mess, plain and simple. Penix just cleared full football activities a little over a week ago after tearing his ACL, and the team apparently decided he wasn’t ready to play in the final preseason game. Then you’ve got Tagovailoa, who was battling a back injury early in camp, making it super tough to get a clear read on him. Cunningham made it crystal clear: all four quarterbacks need to show more, period. They need to see these guys ball out at a high level before handing over the keys. You can’t blame them for wanting to be sure, but man, the clock is ticking!
Four QBs Are Not a Coincidence
Most teams trim down their QB room to three by now, but not the Falcons. They’re rolling with four signal-callers on their initial 53-man roster, including veterans Jack Strand and Cooper Rush who apparently earned their spots with solid summer performances. Cunningham wasn’t shy about calling this depth “a little bit of an insurance policy.” It’s smart business, right? If Penix goes down again, or if Tagovailoa just can’t get it together, they’ve got options. Strand and Rush are there to steady the ship if things go sideways. Penix, the former top-10 pick, has been “working his tail off to get to this point,” according to Cunningham. And Tagovailoa, with all his experience, still carries those injury risks from a rough summer. The staff put a plan in place for Penix, now they just need to see if he can deliver under pressure.
This Is a Waiting Game Nobody Asked For
Patience is supposedly the name of the game in Atlanta. Cunningham even admitted, “We all talk about it. We all have been talking about it forever,” about this ongoing QB debate. He’s not forcing a decision until the team is absolutely sure. “Ultimately, when the coaches are ready, when the players are ready, we will make that decision,” he stated. Fans are probably pulling their hair out right now, but the Falcons aren’t guessing their way into Week 1. They want to see more from Penix in full practices, and they need to make sure Tagovailoa is truly healthy and sharp. Cunningham’s promise? “When it comes time to make the decision, we’ll let you know.” Until then, this high-stakes competition is wide open, with kickoff against the Steelers staring them down. What a way to start the season!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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