This article originally appeared on SteelersNOW.com.
The Atlanta Falcons are starting veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and not Michael Penix Jr., for their Week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced on Monday.
Tagovailoa, 28, was released by the Miami Dolphins this spring and signed a one-year deal with the Falcons, wth Miami still paying a significant part of his salary as part of an NFL-record $99.2 million dead cap hit.
In two preseason games, he went 10 of 13 for 117 yards, and did not throw a touchdown or an interception, for a 103.7 passer rating. Tagovailoa did not impress in training camp, according to reports out of Atlanta, but won the job mostly because he was the healthier option.
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