Mike Tomlin didn’t exactly hide where he stands on Tua Tagovailoa heading into the Falcons’ Week 1 matchup with the Steelers.
“It’s less about Aaron (Rodgers) for me, and it’s more about the quarterback on the other side (Tua Tagovailoa),” Tomlin said. “His last visit to Pittsburgh didn’t go well.
I was in the stadium that day. They lost.
He got benched.”
Tomlin was pointing back to the Week 14 game last season between the Dolphins and Steelers, which also ended up being the final game of Tagovailoa’s Miami run. The odd part is that, statistically, it was actually one of his stronger outings from that season.
Tagovailoa completed nearly 80% of his passes for over 250 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. It was his fourth-highest-rated game of the year, and one of just four times he topped 250 passing yards. Even with that production, Miami managed only 15 points in a 13-point loss to Pittsburgh.
That’s why the doubts are so easy to understand as Tagovailoa gets ready for his first game with the Falcons. He’s dealt with a string of concussions, took a noticeable step back last season, and then followed that up with a rough preseason. Put it all together, and plenty of people expect him to have a hard time against a Steelers defense that has built its identity on being tough and physical.
Falcons fans may not feel much better about it, but Pittsburgh isn’t exactly spotless either. And with new head coach Kevin Stefanski taking over, there’s at least a chance he can turn the outside noise into fuel and pull off a stunner in his first game on the sideline.
In Other News...
Falcons Injury Report Puts Several Week 1 Roles In Doubt
Michael Penix Jr. was a full participant in practice this week even as a knee injury has already ruled him out for the Falcons Week 1 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The encouraging sign for Atlanta is that no one missed practice entirely, but the injury report still gave the coaching staff plenty to sort through as the opener approaches.
Billy Bowman Jr. was limited by an Achilles injury but remains hopeful he can suit up, while Brandon Dorlus, ZaDarius Smith, Zachariah Branch and Kyle Hinton were also on the report in limited fashion for various reasons. For a team trying to get its first-game rotations settled, that leaves a few roles in the secondary and elsewhere hanging in the balance right up to kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Tua Concern They Cant Ignore
Tua Tagovailoas first days as the Falcons newly named starter already have a little extra weight to them, and Thursdays practice session added an unexpected layer. Tagovailoa appeared to be in discomfort and briefly went to the ground during the workout, a sight that immediately put the focus back on the back issue that bothered him during training camp. He did not throw again during the media portion of practice, and the team is set to update his status in its next injury report.
For Atlanta, the timing is the part that matters most. Tagovailoa was just handed the starting job, with Cooper Rush and rookie Jack Strand behind him on the depth chart, so any health concern around him lands differently than it would in midseason. The Falcons now have to sort out whether this was a brief practice scare or something more significant, and the answer should come soon enough when the injury report gives a clearer picture. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Rookie Is Already Turning One Veteran Spot Into A Real Battle
The Falcons Week 1 depth chart brought one of camps clearest developments into focus, with rookie Kendal Daniels listed as the starting second linebacker next to Divine Deablo. Daniels had been gaining ground all summer, stacking up first-team reps in training camp and the preseason while making a strong enough impression to push veteran Christian Harris down the board. For a team that has talked all offseason about earning roles rather than inheriting them, it was a notable nod to how far the rookie has come in a short time.
Christian Harris still gives Atlanta a seasoned option at a spot that rarely stays settled for long, but the early indication is that the coaching staff is willing to trust what it sees over experience or previous investment. Daniels rise has turned what looked like a straightforward veteran role into a real competition, and the Falcons now have at least one lineup decision that says as much about the teams standards as it does about the player who forced the issue. [Read more 🡒]