The Atlanta Falcons entered the regular season with four quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster, and the club still has not named a starter for Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, general manager Ian Cunningham confirmed Wednesday.
Cunningham: decision will come when staff and players are ready
Cunningham told reporters that the organization will make the Week 1 choice internally and that the timing will be driven by the coaching staff's evaluation. "So at the end of the day, we'll make the decision," he said, adding that the staff has "putting a really good plan together for him to get to the point of 11-on-11" as part of the evaluation process.
Cunningham declined to commit to a timeline and left open which of the four quarterbacks could ultimately receive the start, saying the Falcons will gather the information they need before naming a Week 1 starter.
Depth, options and the practical work to get a quarterback ready
Assistant general manager Jeff Scott framed the roster construction as deliberate depth rather than indecision. "These guys went out there and earned it," Scott said, noting the Falcons had four quarterbacks who "earned it" and that quarterback is "a position where you want to have depth."
That approach gives Atlanta flexibility as the staff continues to evaluate players on a day-to-day basis. Headtopics reported that Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. remain in contention for the start, and that the Falcons have not set a firm timeline for naming a Week 1 starter.
Headtopics also characterized Cunningham's posture as not rushed, quoting him as saying, "When the coaches are ready, when the players are ready, we will make that decision." The outlet projected the team wants to see more from the quarterbacks in full practices, specifically noting Penix's need to re-enter heavier on-field work as part of his preparation.
The Falcons' decision to carry four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster reflects a blend of caution and contingency. Keeping multiple options on hand allows coaches to continue live evaluations and to prepare a quarterback through increasing practice reps — a step Cunningham specifically referenced with the staff's plan to move a player back to 11-on-11 work.
With the opener approaching, Atlanta's front office and coaching staff are signaling they will prioritize readiness over deadlines. For now, the identity of the starter remains unresolved; the Falcons will make their choice once their internal benchmarks for preparation and game readiness have been met.
