Tagovailoa or Penix Atlanta's QB Dilemma | NFL News

0:00It's a Timber 8. I'm Corey with The Story, and this is NFL News Today, your AI-powered football briefing. The Atlanta Falcons are kicking off their season, with Tuha Tagel-Viloa, under center for their week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This decision comes as Michael Pinnick's Jr. their first round draft pick from last year is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered back in. November of 2025. Pinnick was only clear for full team drills a couple of weeks ago, leaving him little time to get up to speed in the new offensive system. This lack of preparation for Pinnick seems to be the main reason the Falcons are leaning on the veteran Tagel-Viloa for the opener. However, not everyone is convinced this is the long-term plan. Lesha McHoy, a two-time super bowl champ himself, voiced his opinion on the Speakeasy podcast, suggesting Tagel-Viloa is more of a placeholder. McHoy believes that once Pinnick is fully healthy and back in rhythm, he'll reclaim the starting job. He sees Pinnick's the better, younger player, and doesn't expect much from Tagel-Viloa

1:04unless he has a stack supporting cast and a brilliant offensive. Coordinator McHoy even mentioned watching gains where Tagel-Viloa appeared disengaged. The Falcons choice appears to be heavily influenced by Pinnick's recovery timeline. This gives Tagel-Viloa a significant chance to impress in week 1. If he performs well against the Steelers, it could definitely complicate the quarterback situation in Atlanta moving forward. Ultimately, if Pinnick continues his recovery and gets back to full strength, McHoy is betting that the Falcons will hand the reins back to their young. Draft pick. For now, though, Tagel-Viloa has the opportunity to show he's more than just a temporary solution.