Tua Tagovailoa emerges as Falcons' likely Week 1 starter

The Atlanta Falcons' quarterback competition is currently lopsided due to the health status of Michael Penix Jr. While the team entered training camp with a battle for the starting role, Penix has been unable to participate in live team reps as he recovers from a torn ACL.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport suggests that Tua Tagovailoa is the likely Week 1 starter because he is the only quarterback fully participating in practice. Tagovailoa, who has dealt with back tightness, reported recent progress during training camp, noting that he has begun participating in drills like routes-on-air and 11-on-11 series.

While the organization may eventually want to evaluate Penix's potential as a franchise player, his current inability to practice limits the competitive nature of the position battle heading into the season.