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Amid a quarterback battle in Atlanta, many NFL rumors have been swirling around the league on who will be the Falcons starter, but prominent analyst Ian Rapoport has circled his choice. After the team signed Tua Tagovailoa earlier in free agency, Rapoport thinks he will be the starter come Week 1. Meanwhile, Michael Penix Jr. is still recovering from a season-ending injury he suffered last season and hasn’t revealed a timeline for when he’ll be 100%. Here’s what Rapoport said, explaining that Penix’s health is the main factor: “I was in Atlanta yesterday and my general feel is that Tua will be the starter for Week 1,” Rapoport said during a Wednesday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (1:15 mark). “Penix has not been cleared, they’re having a quarterback battle but that’s kind of what it feels like to me.” Last year, the former 2024 draft selection continued as the Falcons’ starting quarterback, making veteran Kirk Cousins a backup. While he won the job, he never solidified his positioning. Previously, the team benched the former first-round pick after the Falcons lost in a blowout against the Carolina Panthers. The next few months were a disaster for the quarterback, leading to a torn ACL in Week 11 of the 2025 regular season. NFL Rumors: Analyst Reveals Falcons QB Winner; Massive Trade Likely Atlanta May Keep Both QB’s No one should anticipate a trade before Week 1. While Tagovailoa is in a firm position to win the job, he’s also recovering from an injury. Atlanta is walking into a room full of eggshells, it appears. The Falcons will probably be undecided, even though head coach Kevin Stefanski will need to make a decision. With Penix recovering from his torn ACL, here’s what Tagovailoa said: “I view it as a competition. I understand he can’t take some team reps right now because of what he’s going through, but he’s still being able to compete in seven-on-seven, he’s still able to go through some plays,” Tagovailoa said. “It’s definitely a competition.” ‘It’s definitely a competition’ is viewed as something that Tagovailoa is working through and doesn’t want to get complacent. If he’s named the starter and has a breakout season this upcoming campaign, the Falcons could trade Penix to these three teams before November’s deadline.