Tua Tagovailoa will start on Sunday in the Falcons' first regular-season game against the Steelers, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Monday.
Tagovailoa had a rough pre-season, but with projected starter Michael Penix Jr. coming off a torn ACL, the Falcons have tapped the veteran for the season opener.
Penix was cleared for 11-on-11 work on Aug. 22.
In a 17-12 pre-season loss in Miami to his former team on Aug. 29, Tagovailoa was booed as he took the field and finished 7-of-8 for 95 yards while playing three series. He was replaced in that game by Cooper Rush, who went 13-of-18 for 106 yards and a touchdown.
Tagovailoa, who signed a one-year deal with the Falcons in the off-season, was the Dolphins' starter for over five seasons but was released in a move that provided both the player and team with a fresh start. Miami is on the hook for a $99 million dead-cap hit split over the next two seasons, the largest in NFL history.
In 14 games last season, Tagovailoa passed for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions to post an 88.5 quarterback rating.
--with files from The Associated Press
7:08
6:57