The Falcons are already getting a rough look at what their new quarterback situation could become, and Wednesday’s joint practice with the Colts didn’t exactly calm anyone down.
Tua Tagovailoa, who was signed this offseason after leaving the Miami Dolphins, again had trouble securing the ball during a first-team drive. Daniel Flick of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on X, formerly Twitter, “Falcons first-team offense had a drive that went … Tua sack, Bijan (Robinson) carry for TFL, Tua fumbled snap,”
That came after Atlanta opened the preseason last week with a blowout loss at home to the Denver Broncos, a game in which Tagovailoa fumbled the first snap of his Falcons tenure.
Fans watching the latest miscue were quick to let him have it.
“I don’t know why Tua seems to have some butter hands right now I wonder if he’s had a history of muffin the snaps,” wrote one fan.
“This guy still fumbling,” added another.
There was at least a better ending to the next series. Flick reported, “Next drive ended with Tua throwing a jump ball to Drake London, who went over the top of a Colts corner for an impressive grab,”
Atlanta brought Tagovailoa in while Michael Penix Jr.'s injury status remains unclear heading into the new season, and at the moment Tagovailoa appears to be the man in line to open as the starter. The former Alabama standout once delivered a national championship-winning throw in Mercedes-Benz Stadium eight years ago, but so far that old magic hasn’t shown up in his short time in Atlanta.
The Falcons are still waiting on better news about Penix as camp rolls on, and their regular season is set to begin September 13 on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In Other News...
Falcons QB Picture Just Got More Complicated After Jack Strands Debut
The Falcons added former Pro Bowl edge rusher Za'Darius Smith, but the bigger subplot coming out of their preseason game against the Broncos was under center. Atlanta did not get much from its quarterbacks overall, yet undrafted rookie Jack Strand was the one who came away with the best showing among the group in his NFL debut, giving the team at least one unexpected name to keep in the conversation.
Strands performance was modest on the stat sheet, but the broader takeaway was that he handled the moment well enough to draw notice from Kevin Stefanski, who liked the rookies attitude and sees something to build on. With Michael Penix still in the mix as a potential starter once healthy, the Falcons suddenly have a quarterback picture that feels a little less settled than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Roster Battle Just Got Real In Joint Practices With Colts
The Falcons moved straight from a preseason loss to Denver into joint practices with the Colts, and the timing gives the next few days a different kind of urgency. These sessions are less about the scoreboard than about sorting out the roster, with Atlanta using the work against Indianapolis to sharpen its preparation for the regular season opener while giving coaches a better look at players fighting for roles.
That puts a few names squarely in the spotlight, including linebacker Josh Woods, wide receiver Vinny Anthony II, offensive lineman Kam Dewberry, safety Jammie Robinson and quarterback Jack Strand. For all of them, the Colts work is a chance to make a stronger case on the depth chart, and the Falcons will come away with a clearer sense of where the competition stands once the practices are over. [Read more 🡒]
Jack Strand Hype Is Creating A Falcons Debate Fans Need
Jack Strands first preseason outing gave Falcons fans a little jolt at a position that has been under a microscope all summer. The undrafted rookie looked steady enough to keep his name in the conversation for the QB3 job, and in a camp shaped by injuries at the top of the depth chart, that alone has been enough to spark a bigger discussion about what he might become.
The temptation is obvious in Atlanta, where any encouraging quarterback glimpse can get wrapped in long-term hope pretty quickly. But Strand still profiles as a developmental project more than an answer to the franchises bigger questions, and the safer read right now is that his rise is about earning a role, not redefining the position room. [Read more 🡒]