Remember when the Atlanta Falcons were going to start a quarterback battle between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. during training camp? Pepperidge Farm remembers, because those hopes were crushed when Tua tweaked his back at the start of camp and Penix was not yet cleared.
It was easy to assume then that the Falcons were obviously going to name Tagovailoa the starter since it took Penix four weeks to be cleared for full contact--and that's what happened. They later named Tua the starter, but an oblique injury two days before the opener sent him to the sidelines.
Here's the thing: Tagovailoa was only named the starter because the third-year QB. wasn't ready to return. Penix was always the preferred starter for Kevin Stefanski, and now that he's back and will start in Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers, it makes Atlanta's plan for Tua that much tougher.
But here's how it seems like it will end: Michael Penix Jr. will be the reason Tua Tagovailoa never starts a game for the Atlanta Falcons.
Tua Tagovailoa may never start a game for the Falcons thanks to Michael Penix Jr.
The 28-year-old went from being the Falcons' Week 1 starter to being on the shelf, and now that Penix is fully healthy, it's a no-brainer in terms of who deserves to start. They're looking for a long-term franchise QB, and it's fairly obvious which signal-caller is more qualified to step up.
All reports indicate that Tua was only named the Week 1 starter because Michael Penix Jr. was still hurt and once he came back, the starting job would be his. And this is partially what happened, as the only difference is that the former Pro Bowler never got a chance to be QB1 and possibly save his job. Instead, Cooper Rush only confirmed how badly the Falcons need Penix to take that step forward.
At this point of his career, the former Alabama standout is a solid bridge starter, but more of a replacement-level guy. When a more intriguing or better option comes along it's easy to kick a guy like this to the curb, and the 2024 first-round pick and ex-Heisman Trophy runner-up is exactly that.
Stefanski confirmed Tagovailoa is "trending in the right direction" to return in Week 3, but it won't matter: he won't see the field anyways. The Dirty Birds have every reason to ride with Penix until the wheels fall off, so unless he gets hurt again or is 2026 Aaron Rodgers or J.J. McCarthy-level bad, he won't ever hit the bench.
So basically, all Tua is right now is a backup.
The trade rumors can continue about Tua Tagovailoa, but that's not what I'm referring to. You can't deny the facts. He's a rental who Atlanta is not investing in like a starter, which makes it harder to justify playing him over Penix when they both are fully healthy.
With Penix back, the Falcons have much more incentive to start him and see where things go. One's a former top-10 pick with one (possibly two) more seasons left on his rookie deal after 2026 while the other signed for the vet minimum in free agency. You tell me which guy has higher upside, and which one they should want to see succeed before they kick the tires on drafting a QB in 2027.
Ideally the Atlanta Falcons will see things through with Michael Penix Jr., and while they signed Tua Tagovailoa in hopes of igniting a career turnaround, but Penix's return is making it much harder to see that coming to fruition.
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