The Falcons’ official depth chart has given the clearest current answer to their quarterback situation: Tua Tagovailoa is listed as the starter, while Michael Penix Jr. is shown as an injured player.
That matters because it confirms there is a quarterback competition from the outside, but not yet from the inside. Penix, the eighth overall pick, is still working his way back after last year’s ACL injury and has not yet taken part in 11-on-11 drills.
What the depth chart says
For now, the Falcons are moving forward with Tua Tagovailoa at the top of the quarterback list. Penix is not listed as a healthy option at the position, which reflects his current practice status rather than a change in the team’s long-term outlook.
He is practicing, but the lack of 11-on-11 work is a meaningful checkpoint. Until that changes, the Falcons are not really in a true competition setting at quarterback, even if the outside conversation suggests otherwise.
Why it matters
Depth charts do not always settle a season, but they do tell you where a team is right now. In this case, the answer is that the Falcons are treating Tagovailoa as the starter while waiting for Penix to move closer to full participation.
Penix’s status also helps explain why he is not on the physically unable to perform list despite the ACL injury from last year. He is active in the sense that he is around the team and practicing, but he has not yet crossed into full team work.
That leaves the Falcons with a situation that is still unresolved. The quarterback discussion is real, but the next step depends on whether Penix can get onto the field for 11-on-11 drills and make the depth chart picture more competitive before Week 1.
For more context on Atlanta’s quarterback history, see Matt Ryan Football Hire Pays Off for Atlanta Falcons.
