Kevin Stefanski went into the preseason with a straightforward blueprint: play the starters in games one and three, then hold them out in game two. But after Atlanta’s offense stumbled out of the gate, that plan looks a lot shakier.
The Falcons managed only seven points in their preseason opener and finished with fewer than 200 total yards. Tua Tagovailoa was right in the middle of the mess. In his two series with the starters, he looked uneasy, and the outing did little to calm anyone already worried about what this offense might look like when the games count.
That’s why the decision to keep Tagovailoa off the field against the Colts on Saturday feels like the wrong call. This offense needs every rep it can get before it runs into a Steelers defense led by Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, and the rest of a unit that is supposed to rebound after a shaky 2025 campaign.
What happened Friday should have been enough to make Stefanski reconsider. Tagovailoa couldn’t even connect on his first dropback snap, and from there he looked hesitant to stay in the pocket and throw on time. The result was a rough stat line and what is being labeled the 'meme of the year.'
Tua threw 5 passes
zero attempts traveled even 5 yards in the air
all 5 were thrown underneath
he averaged -0.2 air yards
lowest of any QB in a preseason game so far this year https://t.co/6pEGvmb6pF
- Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 15, 2026
The sample was tiny, of course, and he was working without his starting right tackle, which was impossible to miss. But that only strengthens the case for more work, not less.
Tagovailoa never looked comfortable targeting anyone other than Kyle Pitts on a one-yard throw. There was no real chance to build chemistry with the other receivers, and even a couple of drives against the Colts’ backups would have been useful for confidence and rhythm.
For now, the team has to live with the original schedule. The hope is that the preseason finale against the Dolphins looks nothing like what fans saw Friday. A few sharp drives from Tagovailoa in a week and a half would go a long way toward changing the mood.
In Other News...
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The arrangement is expected to unfold over 18 months in two tranches, which makes it more than just a simple transaction. It also still has to clear the NFLs approval process, with owners expected to vote in October, leaving one more formal step before the deal becomes part of the Falcons long-term financial picture. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Depth Chart Sends A Clear Message About Key Roster Battles
The Falcons second unofficial depth chart ahead of their joint practice and preseason game against the Colts offered another snapshot of where the roster stands in August. Cooper Rush is now listed as the starter at quarterback over Jack Strand, while Jawaan Taylor is back in the starting lineup and ZaDarius Smith has been added as a fifth-string edge rusher after coming out of retirement. It is the kind of preseason update that does not settle anything, but it does show how Atlanta is sorting through the back end of the roster and the top of a few position battles.
For a team still in evaluation mode, these listings matter because they hint at how the Falcons are viewing competition heading into a key week of work. Joint practices usually tell a little more than depth charts do, but the chart still gives a clear read on who is getting the first look and who is sliding into a more complicated fight for playing time. The Colts matchup will offer the next layer of clues, especially for players trying to turn a temporary listing into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Week 1 QB Question They Didn't Want
Tua Tagovailoas joint practice against the Colts added another layer to Atlantas quarterback conversation, and not in the way the Falcons were hoping. He finished 8 of 13 with little downfield success and a pick-six, the kind of uneven outing that stands out even in an August setting. It comes at a time when the team is still trying to get a clearer read on its quarterback picture before the season opens.
Michael Penix Jr. remains out while recovering from ACL surgery, and he has not taken part in 11-on-11 work. For now, Tagovailoa is still the expected Week 1 starter unless Penix gets back on the field, shows he is ready and makes a stronger case. Until then, Atlanta is left balancing projection, health and performance with the opener approaching. [Read more 🡒]