The Atlanta Falcons made their final roster cuts on Sunday as the 2026 NFL season approaches. Atlanta fans hoped to have more clarity on their starting quarterback battle heading into Week 1. However, that clarity has not been provided.
Falcons Ripped by NFL Fans Amid Unsolved QB Competition
The Falcons have held a competition between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. in training camp. Both of them have made a case for the starting job. But with the final roster cuts announced, the starting job appears unresolved.
This development has sent NFL fans into a frenzy on social media. They got online to rip the Falcons for their indecision so close to the beginning of the 2026 season. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter appeared on a recent episode of “The Pat McAfee Show” when the Falcons were brought up.
Schefter mentioned that the team is still waiting to name its starting quarterback. They are especially looking to see how Penix looks following a recent injury.
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
“They wanna take a look this week at Michael Penix and see how he responds. They wanna see how he physically feels being out there for a full week…”
“They would also like to see, if they decide to go with Tua, what it would be like for him to get all the reps, which he wasn’t getting all summer long… It’s down to Tua and Penix, and they don’t have a decision yet,” Schefter added.
“The Falcons wanna take a look this week at Michael Penix and see how he responds..
They wanna see how he physically feels being out there for a full week..
They haven’t made a decision yet on who’s gonna be their starter” ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/KHDPB2tPI9
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 31, 2026
This decision has earned the ire of tons of NFL fans. One fan claimed that this is evidence the Falcons aren’t fans of either quarterback. “The indecision already says enough. They hate both of them,” one fan said.
Other fans were hopeful this was good news for rookie quarterback Jack Strand. Strand certainly impressed during the preseason, and he did make the 53-man roster. Schefter shut down any notion of the rookie winning the job. However, fans were still hopeful on social media.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
A fan added, “Jack Strand FC, we’re still fighting.” Another fan said, “Strand can’t be worse.”
Strand can’t be worse
— LC (@LCtuairim) August 31, 2026
One fan alluded to head coach Kevin Stefanski’s experience with the Cleveland Browns, saying this situation may be even bleaker. “Stefanski somehow went to a worse QB room than the browns lol,” the fan said.
One fan questioned Penix Jr.’s skills because he wasn’t announced as the starter. The fan wrote, “How bad is Penix?”
PREDICT THE NFL SEASON: PFN’s Free NFL Playoff Predictor
Other fans continued to take a dig at Tagovailoa, with one writing, “If it was Tua, he would have been named the starter already.”
Another added, “Tua Tagovailoa is so bad that he is losing his starting QB position to ‘training camp.” Michael Penix could be in a wheelchair, and yet it would still be a tough choice to name the starter.”
Tua Tagovailoa is so bad that he is losing his starting QB position to “training camp”.
Michael Penix could be in a wheelchair, and yet it would still be a tough choice to name the starter. https://t.co/oOeCoMist4
— Lambeau Villain (@PackersRunNFC) August 31, 2026
Tagovailoa had an impact score of 72.1 and ranked No. 28 on PFN’s Quarterback Impact Rankings, while Penix Jr. ranked No. 26 with an impact score of 72.8.
The Falcons are certainly taking their time with this decision. Atlanta wants to make sure they get this right, given their plans to challenge for the NFC South in 2026. They don’t have a ton of time, though, with their Week 1 clash coming up on September 13.
