Falcons' Tua Tagovailoa announcement marks feat that no other franchise wants to make

The Atlanta Falcons are just six days away from their season opener on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Falcons were the last team to name a starter as they waited to see if Michael Penix Jr. would be healthy enough to play.

Finally, on Monday morning, Atlanta named its starter for at least Week 1. The Falcons will start Tua Tagovailoa in the season opener.

“Tua Tagovailoa will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback to begin the season. Beyond that, Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said he has "blinders" when it comes to any long-term decisions beyond Atlanta's opener Sunday at the Pittsburgh Steelers,” ESPN’s Marc Raimondi wrote.

Naming Tagovailoa as the Week 1 starter creates some curiosity, but there is an actual reason behind the decision. The belief is that Tagovailoa received the start because Penix is not quite ready, which led to the decision. NFL insider Albert Breer doesn't believe Tagovailoa beat out Penix.

“On the Atlanta Falcons situation, Michael Penix has been fully cleared. So he'd be good to dress for Week 1. But he's still working his way back from the injury, so Atlanta's being careful here.This isn't Tua Tagovailoa beating him out. Moreso, it's about Penix's readiness,” Breer posted.

Choosing Tagovailoa as the starter also marks a very daunting trend for the Falcons. ESPN's Adam Schefter revealed that this is the sixth consecutive season in which Atlanta has named a new Week 1 starter.

This is something that no franchise wants to endure, but it is the reality the Falcons have been dealt. Three seasons ago, Kirk Cousins was supposed to be the guy for a few years, but that plan clearly did not come to fruition.

The Falcons might not keep Tagovailoa as the starter for long, and the biggest hope is that both quarterbacks can stay healthy throughout the year. Atlanta wants either Penix or Tagovailoa to establish himself as the future at quarterback. If neither does, it could be a cycle that starts all over again.

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