When Tagovailoa joined the Falcons after being released by the Miami Dolphins ahead of this season, the team reportedly hoped he would play well enough in new head coach Kevin Stefanski’s offense that it would be comfortable starting the season with the veteran left-hander while Penix, coming off an ACL injury, had more time to recover.However, ESPN/NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Falcons’ starting job is for Penix to lose at this point following Tagovailoa’s inconsistent play in training camp and the first preseason game.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMTua Tagovailoa of the Atlanta Falcons looks on during a joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts at Grand Park Sports Campus on Aug.19, 2026, in Westfield, Ind.
(Getty Images)"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 has not set himself apart from the pack in terms of performance at camp, and he went 3-of-5 for 22 yards in the first preseason game against the Denver Broncos before Stefanski moved on to Jack Strand and Cooper Rush at quarterback for the rest of the contest."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 continued.SEAN PAYTON TAKES VICIOUS SHOT AT FALCONS HOME CROWD AFTER HUMILIATING FIRST HALFTua Tagovailoa of the Atlanta Falcons warms up before the NFL preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on Aug.
14, 2026.(Getty Images)In an ideal world, the Falcons hoped a fresh start for Tagovailoa would’ve been just what he needed for a heated training camp competition for the te...