Tua Tagovailoa got the start in the Atlanta Falcons' preseason opener against the Denver Broncos on Friday, and he looked nothing like fans had hoped for. Tagovailoa went just 3 of 5 for 22 yards despite playing the entire first quarter. He had a bad fumble on a shotgun snap, and his longest play went for 11 yards to tight end Kyle Pitts — though that gain came largely after the catch, as it was a short dump-off pass behind the line of scrimmage that Pitts turned into a long run.
Third-string quarterback Cooper Rush didn't look much better, going 7 of 19 for 62 yards and two interceptions. Still, Tagovailoa was the Falcons' headline offseason acquisition and remains the expected Week 1 starter. It didn't help that Atlanta lost the game 27-7, with the lone touchdown coming on a short goal-line run from undrafted rookie free agent Jack Strand.
The uneven quarterback play across the board has left the Falcons wondering when Michael Penix Jr. could make his long-awaited return. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like that's coming anytime soon. Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Monday that Penix still isn't ready for full practice participation as he continues recovering from a torn ACL suffered late last season — the third of his young career.
Stefanski said Penix remains on the "same plan" as before, continuing individual work and 7-on-7s this week in practice, but he's not yet cleared for full 11-on-11 periods. More news: Texans’ Star-Studded Defense Gets Even Deeper With Former Jets Starter More news: Jets Rookie Suffers Brutal Setback After Strong Preseason Debut Penix was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he hasn't looked like a franchise quarterback yet, either. After appearing in just five games as Kirk Cousins' backup in 2024, Penix was handed the keys to the offense last season but struggled to live up to his draft billing.
Across nine games, he completed 60.1% of his passes for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions. He showed flashes — including four games with 240+passing yards and a 313-yard performance in a dramatic 34-27 Week 4 win over the Washington Commanders — but it was still a largely disappointing season, one that ended in yet another ACL tear. Still, given what Tagovailoa just showed — and with the only other options being 32-year-old Cooper Rush and former Division II quarterback Jack Strand — the Falcons might need Penix back sooner rather than later.
Atlanta next faces the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium before closing out the preseason on Friday, Aug. 28, against the Miami Dolphins. Hopefully, by then, Penix will be back to full practice. Otherwise, Tagovailoa will almost certainly be the Week 1 starter against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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