The final week of the preseason is an important stretch for every NFL franchise. Coaching staffs will finalize game plans, schemes, and roster depth after weeks of incremental performances. Exhibitions throughout the late summer have helped head coach Mike McCarthy determine which players will make the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting rotation.
But surprisingly, their Week 1 opponent may need more time to put the bigger picture together.
According to ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Head Coach Kevin Stefanski announced Michael Penix Jr. will not play Friday night in Atlanta’s preseason finale. To make matters more interesting, the former AFC North rival mentioned no decision has been made on the team’s Week 1 starter.
It’s an intriguing way to prepare for a Steelers team anxious to make a statement on opening weekend. Fans are excited to see McCarthy’s regime take a successful first step. And I believe Patrick Graham’s defensive innovations make a victory possible.
Add in Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa—two quarterbacks Atlanta’s staff isn't comfortable naming QB1?
It sounds like the recipe for success will be marinating weeks in advance.
Until then, Yinzers will watch Tua Tagovailoa start against the Miami Dolphins in the team’s preseason finale on Friday night. It’s an answered prayer for a former first-round pick needing as many reps as possible, and a chance for revenge against his former franchise must lead to fruitful results. In the last few weeks, Tagovailoa has only seen action in a small sample size. He’s completed three of five passes for 22 yards.
In 76 starts in Miami, Tagovailoa earned a 57.9 win percentage. He also threw 120 passing touchdowns and 18,166 passing yards. But his 59 interceptions are also hard to ignore. Plus, the efforts produced little postseason success, with the Dolphins failing to win a playoff game during his tenure.
As a result of his steep contract and lack of recent success, the Dolphins released Tagovailoa. But the Falcons swooped him up.
The Pittsburgh Steelers can sneak a peek at the Falcons QB1 situation by watching their preseason Finale
Signing another veteran quarterback wasn’t Atlanta’s original plan. But an ACL injury forced Michael Penix Jr. to miss more time than expected. Before the injury, Penix earned a 4-8 record in 12 career starts. The Falcons’ first-round selection also accounted for 2,757 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and an 85.8 passer rating.
Experience on the gridiron is essential for Penix to take the next big step. But Atlanta is approaching his return with caution. The third-year QB has not played during the 2026 preseason. At the start of training camp, he was cleared for individual drills and 7-on-7 work, but not full team periods or contact.
The recovery is progressing, and he returned to full practice. Falcons fans will not know what value he brings until Penix is in game action. And who knows when that will be?
Hopefully it’s Week 1 against Pittsburgh.
By then, I expect Patrick Graham’s unit to have ironed out kinks and minor miscommunications. Penix Jr. has never played against the Steelers, and his inexperience could become a major advantage. TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith will make the most of each second Penix Jr. stands in the pocket. Jalen Ramsey and the secondary would also capitalize on unwanted passes.
Opposing quarterbacks will need additional time to recognize simulated blitz packages. So, I expect Penix Jr. to get caught in Patrick Graham’s web. He’s inexperienced with a chip on his shoulder. And high expectations could lead to a long fall.
Few details change if Tua Tagovailoa is deemed the starter. Sure, the veteran has thrown for 514 passing yards and three touchdowns against the Steel Curtain in two games. But he’s shown signs of decline. And the Steelers will be ready to take advantage of a quarterback with shaken confidence.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will focus on the Buffalo Bills to end an eventful Preseason. But eyes should later shift towards a telling Friday night matchup between the Falcons and Dolphins. There's more football to feast on before next week’s kickoff. Plus, it could also reveal which quarterback Pittsburgh will hunt in Week 1.
Add us as a preferred source on Google