Terron Armstead didn’t hesitate when asked which quarterback he’d want to see start for the Atlanta Falcons.
The former Miami Dolphins left tackle went straight to Tua Tagovailoa, a familiar name from their time together in Miami, and made his stance plain on NFL on CBS.
"I would love to see Tua," Armstead said. "Listen, I am a Tua guy."
That kind of backing lands differently now than it would have a week ago. Tagovailoa was initially named Atlanta’s Week 1 starter, but an oblique injury in practice pushed Cooper Rush into the lineup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With both Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. still hurt, Rush is set to start again in Week 2.
Armstead said the Falcons have enough around the quarterback to make the situation work if Tagovailoa gets the chance.
"There's a lot of weapons down in Atlanta," Armstead said. "A lot of talent that he can use and use those guys to really get back to form."
The quarterback picture in Atlanta remains unsettled, and that only adds weight to Armstead’s comments. Tagovailoa didn’t practice all week and is doubtful to play, while his status has kept him from being a real factor in the discussion against the Panthers. Stefanski said Tagovailoa was getting better, but the uncertainty around the position is obvious.
Armstead also pointed to the version of Tagovailoa the Falcons would be hoping to get back. Last season in Miami didn’t look the way many expected, and Armstead believes time and reps are part of the fix in Atlanta, especially after a limited preseason sample that he described as rough.
"I'm so optimistic," Armstead said. "The Tua that played last year is not the Tua that we know and love."
Of course, belief only goes so far. Tagovailoa still has to prove he can stay healthy and play well enough to justify Atlanta’s original decision to sign him in free agency.
The case for finding out is pretty obvious, though. The Falcons have Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts waiting for a quarterback to put the pieces together. Robinson piled up 173 scrimmage yards in the season opener, while the passing game struggled to create much downfield with Rush under center.
Michael Penix Jr. is expected to take over once he returns from his ACL tear, whenever that may be, but Stefanski has not shut the door on Tagovailoa getting his shot. "We're working through it," Stefanski said Wednesday. "I'm not ruling anyone out."
One week into the season, that’s as messy as quarterback uncertainty gets.
The Falcons don’t need Armstead to remind them why they brought Tagovailoa in. They already made that call once. Now they just need a healthy enough stretch to find out whether it was the right one.
In Other News...
Falcons Created A Quarterback Problem They Never Should Have Had
Atlantas quarterback picture got messy fast in Week 2, and it was a mess the Falcons helped create. With Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa dealing with injuries, the team turned to Cooper Rush to start against the Panthers, a move that quickly became a referendum on how the situation was handled from the outset. Rush struggled enough that Atlanta had to keep searching for a better answer as the game wore on.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Falcons finally made the switch to undrafted rookie Jack Strand, a move that only added another layer to the frustration. Strands first extended action ended almost immediately with a pick-six, turning a bad quarterback day into a harder one to defend. The bigger issue now is not just who was under center, but how Atlanta arrived at a point where it had to improvise on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Bigger Problem Than Just An 0-2 Start
The Falcons Week 2 home loss to the Panthers brought a familiar kind of frustration on the scoreboard, but it also left Atlanta dealing with a more immediate concern. Falling to 0-2 for the first time since 2020 is one thing; watching the offense sputter badly enough to trigger a quarterback change in the middle of the game is another, and it underscored how quickly the seasons early narrative has turned.
Bryce Young and Carolina added to the discomfort, with the Panthers quarterback continuing to give Atlanta problems and the Falcons defense struggling to slow him down. The injury situation made the afternoon even messier, with A.J. Terrell leaving with a groin issue and not returning, while other Falcons also went down, giving the team plenty to sort through before the week even turns. [Read more 🡒]
Drake Londons Frustration Said Everything About Atlantas Offensive Mess
Drake Londons body language said plenty Sunday in Atlantas home opener, where the Falcons fell into a deep hole against Carolina and never found much rhythm on offense. The third-year receiver, fresh off a four-year, $141 million extension, was shown on the sideline looking visibly frustrated as the Falcons attack sputtered around him, turning the ball over four times and settling for just one field goal.
London finished with two catches for 29 yards, a modest line that fit the larger story of an offense that looked out of sync from the start. With Cooper Rush starting because of injuries to Michael Penix and Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback picture remains unsettled, and the larger concern for Atlanta is whether there is any quick fix for an offense that has already started to feel stuck. [Read more 🡒]