Ian Rapoport just dropped a truth bomb on NFL Network: Tua Tagovailoa has completely fumbled his “big-time lead” in the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback battle over Michael Penix Jr. Forget what you thought you knew; this race is wide open now, and it’s getting wild. Rapoport himself said Tua “really was his for the taking,” the organization was banking on him to “play well, take the starting job and kind of move forward that way.” But guess what? It didn’t happen.
Tua’s Struggles Opened The Door
The story was supposed to be simple. Tua, who signed a one-year deal with the Falcons in March after his run with the Dolphins, got all the reps with Atlanta’s first-team offense. Why? Because Penix was stuck on the sidelines, recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last year. This was Tua’s golden ticket to lock it down! But instead, Rapoport reported that Tua “has been inconsistent in practice, was inconsistent in the game.” Yikes. We’re talking about a guy who got all the opportunity and couldn’t create separation. He even mishandled a snap on his very first drive in the preseason opener and finished a dismal 3-of-5 for just 22 yards over two possessions. Add in struggles during joint practices, and it’s clear: the consistency just wasn’t there.
Penix Cleared, But Sitting Out Finale
Meanwhile, Michael Penix Jr. has been quietly making his way back. After starting nine games last year before that torn ACL, he was finally cleared to practice this past Saturday. Even with his recovery, the fact that Tua couldn’t put distance between them is a huge red flag. Rapoport put it bluntly: “the door is open for Michael Penix.” It’s an unexpected twist, considering Penix won’t even play in the preseason finale this Friday. Despite being cleared, the Falcons are holding him out, letting Tua get one last shot to make his case under center.
So, here we are. Tua Tagovailoa is set to open the Falcons’ preseason finale against the Miami Dolphins this Friday at 7 p.m. ET. This is his final chance to prove he deserves the starting job. What’s at stake? Everything. The entire direction of the Falcons’ early season hangs in the balance, all because a “big-time lead” just evaporated into thin air.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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