Bijan Robinson isn’t buying the doubt surrounding Tua Tagovailoa.
A lot of Falcons fans may not be thrilled about the idea of the former Miami Dolphins quarterback opening the season as Atlanta’s starter in Week 1, but Robinson sees a very different picture. In an exclusive interview with FanSided on behalf of Colgate, the running back pointed to Tagovailoa’s NFL experience and his background with Mike McDaniel as the kind of edge that can push the Falcons offense forward.
“He has a lot of experience in this league, obviously, with the head coach [and] offensive coordinator he came from," Robinson said. "Seeing that come to life is pretty cool...we talked a lot about the pass game and certain reads and how he wants to look, how he wants to be there, even in the run game. I just really respect how he approaches the game, who he is as a person."
That familiarity matters to Robinson, and he believes he and Tagovailoa are already on the same page.
Tagovailoa’s reputation has taken plenty of hits, especially with the jokes about his 2025 regression. But that noise has a way of flattening what was actually a strong stretch in Miami. From 2022 through 2024, Tagovailoa led the league in passer rating, passing yards, and completion percentage in three straight seasons.
He won’t have McDaniel with him in Atlanta, but the ingredients around him look different enough to matter. Tagovailoa’s time in Miami showed that when he’s protected, he can deliver with anticipation and accuracy down the field. Kevin Stefanski and the Falcons may have the kind of setup that helps him rediscover that version of himself.
Stefanski’s play-design background should be a real step up from the outdated Arthur Smith and clearly overwhelmed Zac Robinson. Put that together with the full range of pieces Atlanta has built on offense, and the foundation for a productive season is there.
Protection is the biggest piece of the puzzle. Outside of injuries, Tagovailoa’s main issue in Miami was how often pressure disrupted his rhythm. Atlanta has help for that in Chris Lindstrom, Jake Matthews, and the recently extended Matthew Bergeron, all of whom can help keep the pocket clean.
And then there are the weapons. Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts give Tagovailoa three of the best options at their positions. Robinson is one of the league’s top backs, London has made the jump many expected even while dealing with poor quarterback play, and Pitts remains a matchup nightmare.
Plenty of people are looking at the version of Tagovailoa they saw in Miami’s final season and assuming that’s what Atlanta is getting to begin the 2026 season. Bijan Robinson clearly sees it differently. He’s seen Tagovailoa deliver before, and he believes the Falcons have the pieces in place for that to happen again.
In Other News...
Falcons Suddenly Have A Tua Concern They Cant Ignore
A brief scare at practice put Tua Tagovailoa back in the spotlight for the Falcons on Wednesday, as the newly named starter appeared to feel discomfort and went to the ground during the session. The issue seemed tied to the back trouble he dealt with earlier in training camp, and he did not throw again during the media portion of practice.
For Atlanta, the timing is what makes it worth watching. Tagovailoa only recently won the starting job, with Cooper Rush and rookie Jack Strand behind him on the depth chart, so any interruption in his workload immediately raises the stakes for a team trying to settle its quarterback picture. His status is expected to be clarified in the next injury report, but for now the Falcons are left waiting to see how serious this latest concern might be. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Week 1 Plan Suddenly Rests On A New Quarterback Decision
Cooper Rush did not arrive in Atlanta long ago, but he is already in the middle of the Falcons most important early-season conversation. Signed in late July, Rush took first-team reps in practice after Tua Tagovailoa was slowed by an oblique injury, a development that immediately put the quarterback picture for Week 1 into focus. With a new offense being installed under coordinator Tommy Rees, every snap matters even more as the Falcons try to get the operation steady before facing the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Rush has been part of that process in a way the coaching staff clearly values, drawing praise for his consistency and communication during practice. If Tagovailoa cannot go, Rush is prepared to handle the opening assignment, which would turn a late-summer roster move into a far bigger early-season responsibility. For a team trying to settle into a new system, the next few practices will say plenty about how quickly the Falcons can get comfortable under center. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Opener Just Got A Big Joey Porter Jr. Wrinkle
The Falcons Week 1 prep has picked up an extra layer of uncertainty with Joey Porter Jr. still working his way back from a back issue. Pittsburgh coach Mike McCarthy would not say whether the cornerback needs to complete a full practice before being cleared for the matchup in Atlanta, and Porter has only been able to work in a limited capacity while he remains in a ramp-up stage.
There is also the longer-term backdrop of Porters contract situation, which remains open with the Steelers but is not close to being resolved. Pittsburgh has a policy of not negotiating extensions once the regular season starts, so the focus for now is on how quickly Porter can build up to game readiness before the opener, even if the timetable is still not fully clear. [Read more 🡒]