Falcons Recap: Final 53-man projection, Tua to start vs. Dolphins

The Atlanta Falcons have wrapped up their final practice ahead of this Friday's preseason game against the Miami Dolphins . Head coach Kevin Stefanski said the team will play its starters, but that doesn't include Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons will instead be cautious with Penix, which leaves Tua Tagovailoa as the QB1 for the exhibition finale.

In today's Falcons Wire Recap, Stefanski lays out his preseason plan, Tagovailoa prepares to face his former team, Penix aims to be ready for Week 1, fans roast Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, and we look at our final 53-man roster projection as training camp winds down.

Falcons name Tua Tagovailoa starter vs. Dolphins

The 2026 NFL preseason is winding down but the Falcons' quarterback competition seems to be far from over. With that said, Tua Tagovailoa will get the start against the Dolphins on Friday. Stefanski didn't specify how much the starters would play but said it would vary by player.

Tagovailoa, who spent his first six NFL seasons with the Dolphins (2020-2025), returns to Miami hoping to pull ahead in Atlanta's QB competition. The former top-five pick passed for 18,166 yards, 120 touchdowns and 59 interceptions in 78 games for the Dolphins but was released during the offseason. He didn't play well in the preseason opener, but Friday is a huge opportunity for Tagovailoa.

Falcons to start QB Tua Tagovailoa vs. Dolphins on Friday night 📸 Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect https://t.co/LUDLGeO6wL pic.twitter.com/zJnT8aS7MU

— The Falcons Wire (@TheFalconsWire) August 26, 2026 Penix feels he'll be ready to go Week 1

With Penix out Friday, he won't have much time to get his feet wet before the regular season opener. However, the third-year quarterback said he feels confident even though he won't play against the Dolphins. Penix said he feels like he'll be ready for the team's Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, per team reporter Tori McElhaney . We'll have to wait and see, but we wouldn't bet against the resilient Penix, who just overcame his third career ACL injury.

"I felt good. I felt confident." Michael Penix Jr. said he is getting better every day, getting the rhythm where he wants it to be. "Not playing this week, with only three practice under my belt," but said he feels like he'll be ready for Week 1.

— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) August 26, 2026 Falcons 53-man roster: 3 UDFAs make our final projection

The Falcons don't have much longer before the NFL's roster deadline. Each team must trim its roster from 90 to 53 players by Sunday evening. In our final 53-man projection , we have three undrafted free agents, including QB Jack Strand and WR Vinny Anthony sneaking in.

While veteran Cooper Rush played well in the second preseason game and has the experience advantage, we feel Strand's upside is too high for the team to risk losing on waivers. The former MSU-Moorhead quarterback lit up the Colts for 212 passing yards and a touchdown on just 12 completions for a passer rating of 132.5.

Falcons 53-man roster projection: 3 undrafted rookies make the cut 📸 Dale Zanine, Dale Zanine-Imagn Images https://t.co/228E3Cmal1 pic.twitter.com/JTDotoHXxq

— The Falcons Wire (@TheFalconsWire) August 26, 2026 Stefanski calls retired RB Nick Chubb his favorite player

Perhaps the biggest selling point for Kevin Stefanski becoming the Atlanta Falcons' head coach was the fact that he won two NFL Coach of the Year awards during his time with the Cleveland Browns. While he instantly turned them into a team to be taken seriously, Stefanski ultimately couldn't overcome the perpetual dysfunction of that franchise.

Still, Stefanski had some incredible players during his run in Cleveland. Outside of Myles Garrett, the most special of them  was running back Nick Chubb , who just announced his retirement. Asked about Chubb during today's Falcons presser, Stefanski gushed over the back who he called his favorite player.

"He was everybody's favorite player—and that's his teammates' favorite, his coaches' favorite," Stefanski told Breer. "I know I'm not supposed to have favorites, but he was my favorite. I always get that question from young kids: Who's your favorite player? And I know you're not supposed to say, kind of like you're not supposed to say who your favorite kid is, but I would always reply, Nick Chubb. He was a joy to coach."

Kevin Stefanski says Nick Chubb, was his favorite player during time with Browns 📸 Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports https://t.co/t7oYShn7x8 pic.twitter.com/2CYcsFU3gi

— The Falcons Wire (@TheFalconsWire) August 26, 2026 NFL insider says Falcons QB battle 'should not be a competition'

Despite getting a head start, Tagovailoa has failed to run away with the job over the last few weeks. Many assumed the veteran was all but guaranteed to be the Week 1 starter due to Penix's injury, but Tua's play has made that " impossible ," according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. On Tuesday, Steve Wyche at NFL Network claimed the Falcons have some "trepidation" about naming Tagovailoa their starter.

"It's amazing to me that Tua has not just seized this," Wyche said on the Jim Rome Show. "Like Michael Penix has not been good to go all offseason. This should not be a competition."

Steve Wyche on Falcons QB battle: "It's amazing to me that Tua has not just seized this" 📸 Brett Davis, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect https://t.co/J4bT85kiCs pic.twitter.com/joaijwF6Tk

— The Falcons Wire (@TheFalconsWire) August 26, 2026 Falcons fans clown Bucs OC Zac Robinson

Former Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson was frequently criticized for his perceived rigidity and insistence on running the pistol formation over his two years with the team. Atlanta's offense finished 14t...

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