How to Watch Steelers vs. Falcons Today: Channel, Live Stream & Start Time for Week 1 Game originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Steelers will begin the 2026 campaign with a home game against the Falcons on Sunday afternoon.
Aaron Rodgers will look to lead Pittsburgh back to the playoffs in the final season of his career alongside new coach Mike McCarthy, who replaced Mike Tomlin.
The Steelers will face backup quarterback Cooper Rush after Tua Tagovailoa was ruled out with an oblique injury. Can Pittsburgh keep the pressure on Rush and start the year with a win?
Here is everything you need to know about Steelers vs. Falcons, including TV and streaming options for Pittsburgh's season opener.

#falcons #sportsnet #start #game

The Atlanta Falcons' quarterback situation has somehow become even more complicated ahead of their Week 1 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The team announced on Saturday that quarterback Cooper Rush is dealing with back spasms. Despite the issue though, Rush remains on track to start against Pittsburgh.
Rush had already been pushed into the starting role after Tua Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury during Thursday's practice and was ruled out for Week 1. Michael Penix Jr. is also unavailable as he continues his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered last season.
That leaves rookie Jack Strand as Atlanta's primary backup behind Rush. The undrafted quarterback has drawn plenty of interest from Falcons fans, with many hoping to eventually see what Strand can do in regular-season action. Rush remains the clear starter for now, but his back issues could make Strand's status worth monitoring throughout Sunday's game.

#quarterback #week #pittsburgh #back

UPDATE: 9:38 a.m. Saturday
A lot has happened since our early posting this week. The biggest injury news is the meniscus tear suffered by the No. 1 tight end, the Raiders' Brock Bowers. He will miss Week 1, and at least a couple of weeks after that.
The season-opening game proved painful for New England star receiver A.J. Brown. He's now on injured reserve.with a high-ankle sprain that will sideline him at least a month.
Several questionable players are more likely to play this week. Arizona rookie RB Jeremiyah Love and Las Vegas sophomore Ashton Jeanty are now expected to start, as is Chicago wideout Rome Odunze. And while Giants WR Malik Nabers is playing it coy, he should be on the field tomorrow night against Dallas.
Cooper Rush will now quarterback Atlanta thanks to injuries to Michael Penix and Tua Tagovailoa. That might turn out to be good news for top Falcons performers Drake London, Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts.

#raiders

Falcons news: Which legendary RB did Bijan Robinson study to improve? appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Falcons will be without projected starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for Sunday's Week 1 opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which could mean a bigger dose of star running back Bijan Robinson in offensive coordinator Tommy Rees' attack.
Robinson is hoping for a stellar season under new head coach Kevin Stefanski, who added an exciting new wrinkle to the Falcons' offense that Robinson believes plays to his strengths. Back-to-back 1,400-plus yard seasons have inspired confidence in Robinson, but the Falcons running back has bigger goals.
He spoke on Friday about the player he patterned his game after, name dropping one of the NFL's all-time greats on ESPN's This is Football show.
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#bijan

Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Falcons will start Cooper Rush in place of injured quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in their season opener, they announced Friday.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Jack Strand will be the Falcons' second string quarterback for the matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in Pittsburgh.
"He's a very competitive person, so disappointed," Stefanski told reporters, when asked about Tagovailoa. "But he's going to rally behind Coop and do everything he can to help Coop."
Rush took all of the Falcons' first-team offensive reps Thursday and continued to lead passing drills at Friday's practice session. The veteran quarterback threw for 303 yards, with no touchdowns and four interceptions, over four appearances last season for the Baltimore Ravens.
Rush completed 61.1% of his throws for 3,766 yards, 20 scores and 14 interceptions over the first 42 appearances of his NFL career. He started 16 times during that span.

#tagovailoa #pittsburgh #season #first

It's Week 1 of the fantasy football season, and while we're not dealing with any bye weeks yet, we're always dealing with injuries. Players you drafted a few weeks ago could be a bit banged up by this point. This will be a weekly piece where I look at readily available players to grab and drop into your lineups.
*Streamers are players who are rostered in 50% or fewer of Yahoo! leagues.
Shough and the Saints visit the Detroit Lions, where we see a big 49.5 over/under. Shough posted 18 fantasy points or more in each of his final six games last season, pretty darn good for a player rostered in only 40% of leagues this season. The Lions allowed the 9th most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks last season (18.2) and have a bad secondary, putting Shough in a good spot.
With Tua Tagovailoa potentially out for Week 1, the Falcons might get back to basics and aim for a run-heavy game. Of course, Bijan Robinson leads the way, but there's no reason for the Falcons to run him into the ground in Week 1.
It's a lower total vs. the Steelers, but a few carries and a vulture at the goal line is a path to production for Brian Robinson.

#robinson

Will the Falcons cut Tua Tagovailoa? Why QB's Atlanta tenure could meet swift end after latest injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
When the Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa early in the offseason, it was viewed as a low-risk, high-reward deal that wouldn't cost them much.
Ideally, Tagovailoa would either join the Falcons as a starter, helping ignite Kevin Stefanski's collection of offensive weapons en route to NFC South contention, or, at the very least, he'd help Michael Penix Jr.'s development by pushing him in a competition. So far, neither of those things have happened — and Tagovailoa may not last long in Atlanta.
After initially being name the QB1 for Week 1, then being ruled out due to an injury in practice, recent reports indicate that Tagovailoa's stint with the Falcons may be short-lived.
Here's what to know about Tagovailoa's future in Atlanta and his latest injury.

#sporting #kevin

It's the news that seemed expected after the Tua Tagovailoa practice video on Thursday: Cooper Rush will step up and start on Sunday for the Atlanta Falcons as they face the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The tough part in fantasy football is that there's so much talent on the Falcons' roster. Michael Penix Jr. will be inactive, so it was going to be Tagovailoa tossing the ball to Kyle Pitts, Drake London and beyond. Now, it'll be Rush.
Let's dive in with some notes about some of those players as we get ready for the rest of the 2026 Week 1 slate:
Tagovailoa had his share of struggles this preseason, so it's not like you were upgrading London et al here. Rush will be fine... and there's a world in which maybe he's better?
Bijan Robinson is still RB2 or RB1 this week. Drake London might see enough volume to be a WR1-level scorer this week. Same goes for Kyle Pitts, who is just outside the top-five TEs this week.

#kyle #thursday

Both the Steelers and the Falcons have new coaching staffs heading into Week 1. It's safe to say both franchises will be looking to start their new era off on the right foot with a victory. I spoke with Kevin Knight of The Falcoholic to learn a bit about what's new with the Atlanta Falcons.
Kevin Knight: Well, now even Tua Tagovailoa is out of the lineup thanks to an oblique injury suffered during individual drills on Thursday. That means Cooper Rush at the helm (who, in truth, may not be any worse than Tua based on the aforementioned preseason). What you're going to see is a lot of quick game, and as much Bijan Robinson as the team can muster. If Atlanta can run the ball well and get Bijan going, they can score points. So that'll be the plan, with the passing game largely taking a complementary role until Michael Penix Jr. returns.
Kevin Knight: This is a good defense that will have to find ways to manufacture pass rush. Thankfully, Jeff Ulbrich is an evil genius with his blitz packages, and he's got a lot of interesting looks planned. Expect to see a lot of linebacker and slot blitzes to supplement their weaker edge rusher room, along with a lot of emphasis on interior pass rush. Atlanta has a really nice interior duo with Brandon Dorlus (who was leading all interior defensive linemen in the NFC with 8.5 sacks last season before injury) and trade acquisition Gervon Dexter Sr. They're hoping the interior can offset some of their weaknesses outside.
Kevin Knight: I like Kevin Stefanski and think it pretty much takes a miracle worker to extract any amount of success from the Cleveland Browns organization. It does seem like there's a coherent, forward-thinking plan in place for this Falcons team for the first time in years. I don't necessarily expect a lot of success in 2026 based on the moves made to this point and the way the team is structured, but I do expect Atlanta to be one of the most aggressive teams in free agency and the draft in 2027.
Kevin Knight: As I mentioned before, Brandon Dorlus is a borderline-elite interior pass rusher who may also get some run on the edge. Linebacker Divine Deablo was the biggest surprise in last year's free agent class and completely transformed the defense when he was on the field. Second-year safety Xavier Watts was a DROY candidate in 2025 and forms a dynamic duo with veteran Jessie Bates III. Atlanta will be starting two rookies on defense: Avieon Terrell (brother of A.J. Terrell) in the slot, and Kendal Daniels at linebacker. Both impressed in training camp, with Daniels being a particularly pleasant surprise given his Day 3 selection.

#expect

It's been six days since Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway suffered an ankle injury against Auburn.
Lagway got hurt in the first half of the game before returning with a lot of tape on his ankle. Lagway finished with 333 yards through the air, two touchdowns, and one interception.
MORE: Falcons announce injury update for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa
He hoped to start against Prairie View this Saturday, but that won't happen. According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Lagway is not expected to play, paving the way for junior quarterback Nate Bennett to start.
Lagway isn't expected to be out long-term.

#injury #start #baylor #falcons

With the Pittsburgh Steelers being less than five days away from their regular season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, the first set of injury reports for Week 1 are here.
Here's a look at every injury the Steelers and Falcons saw on Thursday as both teams prepare for an exciting Week 1 matchup, including just one setback for Steel City brand of football.
CB Joey Porter Jr. (back) ∣ Wednesday: LP ∣ Thursday: LP
QB Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) | Wednesday: (-) | Thursday: LP
QB Michael Penix Jr. (knee) | Wednesday: FP | Thursday: FP

#thursday #wednesday #falcons #city

Cooper Rush is about as good of a third quarterback as you'll find in today's NFL, and is certainly one of the most experienced. That said, when you're staring down the barrel of starting your QB3 in Week 1 of the NFL season, something has gone terribly awry.
We'll get more updates tomorrow, but that seems like a real possibility after Tua Tagovailoa left practice today with what the injury report classified as an oblique injury. He was listed as a limited participant—because he did participate before he got injured!—but we have no idea how significant that injury is at this point.
11Alive's Reggie Chatman Jr. got footage of the injury and aftermath.
If Tua's fine, he's starting against the Steelers in Week 1. If not, Cooper Rush will take the start with Jack Strand as his backup, and it would not be stunning to see the increasingly snakebitten Falcons adding another veteran quarterback to the practice squad. Things are getting real grim, real fast.
If Rush is up, he'll be making his 17th career start. He's completed 364 of 596 passes for 3,766 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions with 62 rushing attempts for 20 yards. The Falcons will be a little more likely to attack downfield with Rush under center in theory, but in practice I imagine he'll get an ultra-conservative gameplan that features a lot of Bijan Robinson.

#real #cooper #falcons #starting

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left practice Thursday with an oblique injury.
Tagovailoa bent over in obvious discomfort after throwing a pass during a portion of practice open to media and grabbed his right side. He dropped to the ground for a few seconds before getting up and trying to shake off the injury.
It's unclear if he returned to practice. The Falcons listed him as a limited participant.
Tagovailoa's first game with the Falcons is at Pittsburgh on Sunday. It's the same spot where he made the last start of his rocky final season with Miami.
Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski announced Monday that Tagovailoa will open the season as the starter and Michael Penix Jr. will be inactive. Cooper Rush will be the backup.

#tagovailoa #injury #season #thursday

The Falcons' plan to start Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback against the Steelers on Sunday may have changed on Thursday.
Reporters at the open portion of practice shared that Tagovailoa appeared to hurt his back at one point and that he did not throw any more passes before the team closed the session to outside eyes. It doesn't sound like he did much work over the rest of the session either.
Cooper Rush told reporters that he took all of the first-team reps during practice. Rush was set to be the backup against Pittsburgh as Michael Penix is going to be inactive for the opening game of the season.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski is scheduled to speak to reporters on Friday and he could deliver the news that Tagovailoa's run as the starter in Atlanta is over before it even started.

#tagovailoa #rush #team #sunday

It's been a tough week for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as he prepares to make his team debut this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tagovailoa was named the starting QB for Week 1, but head coach Kevin Stefanski wouldn't commit to him beyond the season opener.
While it's clear that Tagovailoa needs to play well to keep the job, those around the NFL have strong doubts about his ability to do so. Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin roasted Tua during his NBC broadcast debut on Wednesday evening.
"It's less about Aaron for me and it's more about the quarterback on the other side," Tomlin said of Tagovailoa. "His last visit to Pittsburgh didn't go well. I was in the stadium that day. They lost. He got benched. So I think it's going to be a good day for Mike McCarthy, Patrick Graham, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and company."
Tagovailoa went 22-for-28 for 253 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a 28-15 loss in his last game against Pittsburgh. The Dolphins benched him the following week and his time in Miami came to an end shortly after.
Unfortunately, it gets worse for Tagovailoa. NBC insider Mike Florio reported that Tagovailoa is in danger of potentially being released once he is benched in Atlanta.

#pittsburgh #atlanta

Fantasy football ****** yst Hayden Winks reveals his WR2 rankings and ****** ysis for Week 1. He'll continue to update his rankings for every position throughout the week.
London was the WR5 on WR5 usage from 2024 through Week 11 of 2025 when he went down with a PCL injury. Only Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase had a higher target share (29.6%) over that span, and the Falcons only added depth in the skill group this offseason in third-round slot Zachariah Branch, Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus.
Unfortunately, the QB play hasn't really improved with Tua Tagovailoa playing so poorly this offseason that he was only awarded the starting nod mere days before the season after Michael Penix Jr. (ACL) wasn't going to make it in time. There is also a new coaching staff, and last year's OC Zac Robinson just about did everything right for London's box scores. We can only hope London gets as much slot work as he did last year.
Join a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
The good news is the Steelers have turned into a bit of a pass funnel. Last year's unit was third-worst in pass yards allowed and 18th in rush yards allowed. CB1 Joey Porter is an above-average top option and slot CB Jalen Ramsey is still a tough out, even if he's a step slower. Atlanta only projects for 19.5 points this week.

#slot #fantasy #london

After waiting the entire preseason, the Atlanta Falcons finally named Tua Tagovailoa as the team's starting quarterback in Week 1. A few days later, and that status could be in jeopardy.
Tagovailoa reportedly sustained a back injury during practice Thursday. After touching his back and sitting on the ground, Tagovailoa did not throw again in the portion of practice attended by the media.
Falcons backup Cooper Rush filled in for Tagovailoa after the injury.
Tagovailoa, who is in his first season with the Falcons, also battled a back injury in July. That ailment kept him off the field briefly in training camp. He was eventually able to return to action and eventually earned the team's starting job.
But even before Thursday, Tagovailoa's grasp on a starting spot was in question. Michael Penix reportedly pushed Tagovailoa for that role, but Penix still needs more time to recover after tearing his ACL last season.

#starting #back

Former NFL player Emmanuel Acho came to Tua Tagovailoa's defense after the Miami Dolphins quarterback became the subject of a social media controversy involving an alleged burner account. Acho urged critics to ease up, suggesting the situation may have been the result of someone close to the quarterback managing his online presence rather than Tagovailoa praising himself.
The controversy began after a social media account ******* ociated with Tagovailoa appeared to post supportive comments about the quarterback. Fans quickly questioned whether the Dolphins star was operating a burner account, creating another viral NFL discussion centered on athletes and their sometimes complicated relationship with social media.
Oct 12, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks to throw a pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images
Acho offered a different explanation for the unusual exchange. He suggested that a family member, possibly Tagovailoa's wife, could manage the quarterback's social media accounts and may have forgotten to switch back to a personal profile before posting praise.
The former NFL linebacker noted that athletes increasingly rely on relatives, representatives and other trusted people to help manage their social media activity. The arrangement can provide distance from criticism and online harassment, allowing players to protect their mental health while maintaining an active public presence.

#Social #dolphins #former

There's few things more excruciating for a fantasy football manager than watching one of your players waste away on a bad offense. Whether it's poor play-calling, offensive line play or an incompetent quarterback, even the best receivers and running backs can struggle to break through because of their circumstances.
We've already identified the teams to avoid in fantasy for that reason, and now it's the flip side of that coin. Here are five teams worth targeting in 2026 fantasy football drafts, as they could produce enough offensive fireworks to have several players worth rostering.
The Chargers brought in OC Mike McDaniel to revitalize their offense after he did wonders with Tua Tagovailoa in Miami. Tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are now healthy as well, so it's full speed ahead for Justin Herbert, running back Omarion Hampton and receivers Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. I'm targeting Johnston late in all my drafts, as he's the Chargers' undisputed deep threat with Herbert one of the NFL's best deep passers. Johnston is a steal at his current ADP.
Dallas has the NFL's most fearsome wide receiver duo in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, plus a surgically accurate quarterback in Dak Prescott. Javonte Williams is also coming off a career year as the team's lead running back, and his powerful style should continue to be a perfect complement to the high-flying pass game. All four players are worth targeting, but tight end Jake Ferguson is a fade at his current ADP as his game is touchdown-reliant and lacks the verticality of, say, Isaiah Likely or Juwan Johnson.
Ben Johnson has a case to be the NFL's brightest offensive mind, so it's wise to load up on Bears in drafts. D'Andre Swift is a perfect RB2 if you go WR heavy early. Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III have a big chance to outplay their ADP if Caleb Williams can take the leap many are expecting. And as for the tight end skyrocketing up draft boards, Colston Loveland has a chance for a Travis Kelce-type season if he can stay healthy and build off the momentum he had late last season.

#johnston

Tua Tagovailoa returned to Miami Gardens with his new team Atlanta Falcons after spending six years here. Every return is special, but Tagovailoa's return certainly wasn't taken well by the home fans.
After playing for Miami Dolphins for over half a decade, this was the first time he had played against the home team in Miami Gardens. As fans booed him loudly, he didn't pretend to not notice it, rather opened up about it after the game.
Despite spending years in Miami as the franchise quarterback, fans in attendance expressed their frustration. Many Dolphins supporters still felt let down by the team's lack of playoff success during his tenure as they achieved just one postseason appearance, alongside his turnovers and injury concerns toward the end of his run.
Aug 14, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws a pass against the Denver Broncos in the first quater at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Despite the hostile reception, Tagovailoa took a reflective approach after the game. Addressing reporters, he acknowledged hearing the crowd but reiterated his lasting appreciation for the city and the team.

#atlanta #falcons

The gap Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa has been closed in the Atlanta Falcons quarterback race, according to Yahoo Sports. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport says the lead Tagovailoa held is gone. Both players will now split first-team reps to settle the starting job. The competition is wide open and the pressure is on for both men.
Tagovailoa started with a huge advantage. He looked great during the offseason while Penix was stuck on the sideline. The organization wanted him to win the job and move forward as the starter. That plan relied on Penix staying injured for a while. But the knee injury healed faster than expected.
Penix needed surgery in the week of November 24, 2025, to address a partially torn ACL in his left knee. Before that hurt knee, he threw for 1,982 yards. He completed 60.1 per cent of his passes. Nine total touchdowns and three interceptions were recorded by him during the 2025 season. Now he is back and ready to fight.
Tagovailoa has not looked as sharp in the preseason. Both in practice and in games, Rapoport noted that he had been inconsistent. The gap that seemed so wide has shrunk to nothing. Rapoport explained that Tagovailoa 'had a big-time lead in this race'. That lead is under serious pressure now.
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the split reps. This move proves the door is open for Penix. Rapoport stated that while he seems to have been practicing better the last couple of days, the door is open for Michael Penix. That quote from Rapoport sums up the whole situation perfectly.

#lead #michael #race

It definitely doesn't feel like it's summer out there anymore. It feels like draft season. Pumpkin spice lattes are already everywhere! Anyway, we're four games into Week 3 of the NFL preseason as we prep for the 2026 season. There's a good chance a lot of you are partaking in fantasy football drafts this weekend as well.
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
With that, you'll need to be up-to-date on the latest news from around the league. One big development we're following is the potential suspension of Packers RB Josh Jacobs, who was charged on Thursday. Along with that, here are some more headlines to note for fantasy.
Tua Tagovailoa will start on Friday versus his former team, the Dolphins, the preseason finale. This is notoriously a spot where the starting QB would sit and rest for Week 1. It also appears Michael Penix Jr. will not play on Friday, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Rap also said Tua hasn't looked good during camp and preseason, leading Atlanta toward Penix as the starter.
Penix is participating in 11-on-11 drills at practice and looks good, per Rapoport, but hasn't seen live action. It's looking like he'll be ready to play Week 1 coming off another torn ACL suffered last season. If Penix is good to go, he could be the starter to open 2026 against the Steelers. That could bode well for the Falcons' passing game if Penix is healthy and slinging the rock — most notably for Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr. Penix isn't anyone you should consider in fantasy outside of deep 2-QB leagues, but is a name to file away as a potential waiver in some cases (if he starts).

#season #rapoport

There are only two days left in 2026 NFL preseason schedule.
Twenty teams will be in action on Friday evening as players get one more chance to either get some game work ahead of the regular season starting in two weeks or impress the coaching staff enough to make the roster or practice squad.
Heading into the final week of season games, there is only one quarterback battle left to be decided. The Atlanta Falcons haven't yet decided on a Week 1 starter. The Falcons are theoretically deciding between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr., but fans have been impressed with rookie Jack Strand in camp.
Here's a look at who's in and who's out for Friday's NFL preseason schedule:
Notables playing: QB Sam Hartman, C Ethan Pocic

#week #season

ESPN and Words + Pictures announced on Thursday that Saban, a "landmark multi-part ESPN Original docuseries chronicling the life, legacy and extraordinary career of Hall of Fame coach Nick Saban," will premiere on Thursday, October 8, with all six episodes being made available on the ESPN app at launch.
The first episode will debut on ESPN's network on October 8 at 6 p.m. ET, with the remaining five episodes airing throughout October and early November.
Directed by Russell Dinallo and produced by Words + Pictures' Connor Schell, Libby Geist, Aaron Cohen, and Alexa Conway, along with Tom Rinaldi, with Gabe Honig serving as co-executive producer and showrunner, Saban will chronicle Saban's 17-season coaching career as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, during which he won six National Championships.
Via his own reflections and the insights of those around him, Saban "peels back the curtain on the long, closely guarded world of the legendary coach, featuring hundreds of hours of never-before-seen footage from locker rooms, practice fields and behind-the-scenes moments throughout his tenure at Alabama," while also touching on his coaching stops with LSU, the Miami Dolphins, and Michigan State.
The docuseries will feature interviews with over 70 people throughout Saban's life and career, including Bill Belichick, Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian, Kirby Smart, Tim Tebow, Jalen Hurts, and Tua Tagovailoa, as well as present-day interviews with Saban and his wife, Miss Terry Saban.

#saban #Career #coach #thursday

At one point this offseason, it looked like Tua Tagovailoa might be the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons.
After all, Tua was the only legitimate candidate while Michael Penix Jr. was out of practice for the vast majority of training camp as he continued to recover from a torn ACL.
But here we are a few weeks away from the start of the season and the Falcons still have not named Tua the starter. Meanwhile, Penix has returned to practice.
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio is now wondering if Tua will even be on the team's roster after the cutdown deadline passes on Aug. 30.
MORE: Tua Tagovailoa sparks viral NFL meme after brutal Falcons debut

#falcons #practice #mike #florio

It's almost time for the real thing: the NFL season is around the corner. But first, the final week of NFL preseason games comes your way starting Thursday.
A total of four games are set for Thursday night, and they will all give teams an opportunity to see how their 53-man rosters may stack up come the roster cutdown deadline on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. ET. Soon, players of all levels of experience will be searching for new NFL homes – or see the end of their NFL dream.
Some positions have already been settled: Deshaun Watson will get the keys as the Cleveland Browns' QB1, coming out on top of the quarterback battle with Shedeur Sanders. It seemingly didn't take much for Kyler Murray to unseat J.J. McCarthy in the Minnesota Vikings quarterback battle, either. Now, all eyes rest on the Atlanta Falcons, who have yet to officially name a starter for Week 1 between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa.
While there are other roster decisions coming soon, the final week of the preseason may offer some insight on which position battles are settled, and which roster spots need another few days of deliberation from coaching staffs and front offices.
Here's what to know about the preseason Week 3 schedule:

#week #roster #final #settled

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who joined team drills for the first time on Monday, will not play in the team's final preseason game at Miami on Friday night.
The decision could have strong implications on Penix being available for the start of the regular season. The much-anticipated competition between Tua Tagovailoa and Penix for the starting job was put on hold through much of training camp as Penix continued his recovery from his 2025 season-ending injury to his left knee. Penix was limited to seven-on-seven and individual drills before his first 11-on-11 work this week.
Though Penix will not have played in any of the team's three preseason games, Stefanski insisted he was encouraged by the quarterback's progress.
"I thought he did well," Stefanski said of Penix's performance in practice on Wednesday. "I thought he looked good. He moved around well. I think all that work, like I've told you guys the whole time, and you've seen it with your own eyes, like he's put a lot of work into this. I think you see that in his getting away from center, making throws, etc."
Stefanski said Tagovailoa will start at Miami, followed by Cooper Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand.

#penix #time

The Atlanta Falcons have a limited window to **** s their quarterback room before the regular season begins on September 13. However, now that Michael Penix Jr. is fully healthy, they can at least get an idea over the next few weeks.
The Falcons still have one more preseason game coming up this Friday against the Miami Dolphins, and they are expected to treat it like a dress-rehearsal for the regular season. The team released its depth chart for Friday's preseason finale and it had a few notable changes from last week.
In today's Falcons Wire Recap, Penix impresses his coaches and teammates, CBS Sports trashes Atlanta's roster, Jack Strand gets an "A" for his preseason performance, and we examine the team's latest depth chart ahead of Friday's matchup in Miami.
The Falcons' final preseason depth chart was released on Tuesday, and it was the first one since Michael Penix Jr. was cleared for contact. After being listed fourth/injured on the previous two depth charts, Penix is now listed alongside Tua Tagovailoa on the first-string offense. Check out Atlanta's latest quarterback depth chart below.
Tua Tagovailoa (1) OR Michael Penix Jr. (9)

#penix #falcons #preseason #chart

Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback Jack Strand was so good against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday that head coach Kevin Stefanski found himself fielding questions about whether or not Strand was competing for the team's QB1 job.
Stefanski's answer might have left the door open, but Strand isn't realistically pushing for the QB1 job at the moment. The comments were likely a result of Tua Tagovailoa's underwhelming play and the fact that Michael Penix Jr. has just one 11-on-11 practice under their belt.
We'd be shocked if Strand ends up starting any games for Altanta this year, but he was admittedly spectacular against the Colts - good enough to earn an "A" grade from Carter Bahns at CBS Sports.
"The Falcons might just have something in Jack Strand. He arrived in Atlanta as a relative unknown, having gone undrafted out of Division II Minnesota State–Moorhead, but he made a name for himself in two preseason outings. Following the rushing touchdown he logged in Week 1, Strand erupted for 212 passing yards, a touchdown and another score on the ground in a drubbing of the Colts. He and Cooper Rush combined to complete 16 of their first 17 throws, and his rushing ability (22 yards on nine carries) is obvious and differentiates him in the battle for the No. 3 quarterback job."
While it's a remote scenario, the Falcons can't afford to stay on their current course if it's not working out. Right now the plan should be to start Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. the first month of the season - and if he doesn't impress then the other should get the ball until midseason.

#falcons #colts #jack #michael

Falcons receive brutal 'too high' verdict on already bleak win projection originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Falcons are going into the 2026 NFL season with uncertainty at the quarterback position between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa.
Given Tagovailoa's struggles in joint practices and so far in the preseason, it's fair for fans to have big concerns about the team heading into the year. But according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, they have a 7.1 projected win total.
While that's nothing overly impressive, it's not terrible. However, Kendall handed out a harsh verdict, calling that 7.1 projection "too high" for the Falcons.
"Projected wins: 7.1. Verdict: Too high," Kendall writes. "It's been a tough summer for the Falcons."

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