The Atlanta Falcons appear poised to hand the starting quarterback job to Michael Penix Jr., with Tua Tagovailoa's performance in training camp and the preseason reportedly falling short of expectations. Initially, the organization had hoped Tagovailoa, acquired after being released by the Miami Dolphins, would be ready to start the season, allowing Penix Jr. more time to recover from an ACL injury.
However, reports indicate that Tagovailoa's inconsistent play has made this plan untenable. Ian Rapoport of ESPN/NFL Network stated that the starting position is now Penix Jr.'s to lose. "It really seemed that the goal of the entire organization was to have Tua be the starting quarterback right away to start the season," Rapoport said. "Let Michael Penix come along slow... Really you’d like him to be inactive for the first several games and really just take his time and make sure he’s fully healthy."
Tagovailoa's performance in the Falcons' first preseason game against the Denver Broncos saw him complete 3-of-5 passes for 22 yards before being replaced. Reports suggest his struggles were not confined to the game, extending into practice sessions as well.
"Tua’s play made that impossible, not just in the preseason game, which we’ve seen, but it sounds like practice as well. All of which is to say, this is Michael Penix’s job for the taking," Rapoport added.
This development means the Falcons may need to rely on Penix Jr. earlier than anticipated. Head coach Kevin Stefanski emphasized competition within the team, stating, "Everything we do around this building is competing... Our guys are pushing each other by showing up and putting in the work." The team faces a crucial decision before their Week 1 road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 13.