Michael Penix Jr. has already done enough to keep the Falcons rolling into Week 4, and Tua Tagovailoa is making it clear he knows exactly where he fits in now.
After Penix helped Atlanta pound the Green Bay Packers 35-14 at Lambeau Field on Sept. 24, the rookie quarterback secured at least a second straight start and pushed the Falcons to 1-2. That performance also solidified the depth chart picture heading into Atlanta’s Week 4 “Monday Night Football” trip to the 1-2 New Orleans Saints on Oct. 5.
Tagovailoa was originally lined up to open the season as Atlanta’s Week 1 starter before an oblique injury changed everything. Now working behind Penix, he said his focus is on making sure the Falcons’ current starter has every bit of support he needs.
"You've got to do everything you can to make sure you're not the reason he's failing," Tagovailoa said about Penix on Tuesday, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN. "So, that's where I look at my job being right now for Mike and whatever he needs in terms of off-the-field film, extra throws, questions, whatever it is, whatever that looks like. That's what my job description entails right now."
Penix’s outing against Green Bay was a strong one, even with an interception on Atlanta’s opening drive. He finished 18-of-25 for 256 yards, a touchdown and that early pick, and the Falcons never let the game slip away after that.
There was some speculation after the win that Atlanta could consider moving Tagovailoa if another team lost a quarterback to injury, but Penix’s own background with injuries in college and the NFL may make the Falcons more inclined to keep Tagovailoa around.
For his part, Tagovailoa said he’s treating the situation like a competition, even while acknowledging the reality of the current pecking order.
"I'm always going to look at it as a competition," Tagovailoa said about his current role with the Falcons. "But as I said, this is the job description right now.
Mike's the guy. We have to do everything we can to support him, and we're going to support him."
Tagovailoa also addressed the oblique injury that knocked him off course before the season opener. The injury was first reported on Sept. 10, and he said Tuesday that he felt discomfort on Sept. 9 but believed he could push through it.
"Just thought it wasn't something as serious, just man, maybe my back or something might have locked up," Tagovailoa explained. "But that's what it was (an oblique), and it's unfortunate, but it is what it is."
According to Raimondi, Tagovailoa is "doing much better now, though maybe not completely 100 percent" after the injury. He is on track to be Penix’s primary backup against the Saints.
As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Atlanta as a three-point road underdog for the game in New Orleans.
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