Tua Tagovailoa’s first steps with the Falcons are already stirring up the same old questions, and not much has changed from the Dolphins days.
Atlanta opened its preseason with Tagovailoa getting the starter snaps, but the showing was brief and underwhelming. He dropped a snap, then finished his lone series 3 of 5 for 22 yards before exiting without taking any big hits. For a quarterback who has spent years under a microscope, it was the kind of outing that invites more doubt than excitement.
That’s exactly why Steve Smith took aim at him on ESPN’s Get Up. Smith said, “I'm shocked that Tua [Tagovailoa] hasn't taken the bulls by the horn.”
The criticism fits the moment. Three weeks into camp, Tagovailoa is supposed to be sorting out a starting job against no real competition, yet Kevin Stefanski still isn’t ready to hand him the week one role.
Smith’s issue wasn’t just the stat line. He pointed to Tagovailoa’s reluctance to push the ball downfield, a familiar complaint for anyone who watched him in Miami.
The arm talent is there, but the throw has to be just right for it to show up, and too often the safer option wins out. That tendency to settle for the dump-off instead of taking a shot has followed him from one team to the next.
The Dolphins tried to make it work for six seasons, even with Mike McDaniel building a system around Tagovailoa’s strengths. It still never fully clicked.
He had flashes of what he could become, but the bigger, more consistent version never really arrived. In a league where average doesn’t carry much weight, that was always going to leave Miami looking for more.
Atlanta is now watching the same movie from the other side. With Michael Penix still hurt, the Falcons’ quarterback room is Tagovailoa, Cooper Rush, and Jack Strand, which makes the label of “preseason starter” almost more symbolic than meaningful. Stefanski announced Tagovailoa would start Atlanta’s first preseason game, but that’s less a vote of confidence than a formality.
And because the Falcons aren’t paying for him - the Dolphins are - the risk is pretty low. So far, though, Tagovailoa hasn’t done anything in Atlanta to make Miami regret moving on.
In Other News...
Dolphins Offensive Line Is Turning Heads Before A Bigger Test Arrives
The Dolphins starting offensive line has started to settle in just as the preseason ramps up, and the early signs have been encouraging. Limited reps against the Washington Commanders offered a first look, and the group carried that momentum into later practices, where Jonah Savaiinaea and Austin Jackson drew praise for both run blocking and pass protection. For a unit that has been under the microscope all summer, showing clean work in practice matters as much as any single snap.
Behind the starters, the depth chart is also taking shape in a way Miami needs it to, especially with the bigger tests still ahead. Caeden Wallace has been standing out since the trade, giving the Dolphins a useful backup option while the coaches sort through the rest of the interior mix. And with Jamaree Salyer now out for the season, the room has even less margin for error, which only raises the importance of every strong practice rep between now and the next real game. [Read more 🡒]
Quinn Ewers Suddenly Faces A Real Dolphins Question
The Dolphins got their first preseason look at 2026 in a loss to Washington, and the more revealing part may have been what happened behind the starter. Quinn Ewers, working through a groin injury, never found much rhythm in the opener, finishing with one completion on eight throws for 27 yards and an interception as Miami continued sorting out the backup quarterback picture behind Malik Willis.
For a team trying to build around Willis and clarify its long-term depth chart, Ewers uneven showing adds another layer to a decision that already mattered. Preseason is still early, and one game is only one game, but Miami now has a real question to answer about how much trust it can place in Ewers if it needs him to be more than just an arm in camp. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Keep Sending A Clear Message About Their Pass Rush Depth
The Dolphins are again adding to their edge-rush group as they continue to sort through the bottom of the roster ahead of Preseason Week 2. Seth Coleman-Lyles is back in the picture, bringing some familiarity to a unit that has seen a steady stream of recent signings and some notable absences along the defensive line as Miami keeps looking for workable depth.
Coleman-Lyles has already spent time with the Seahawks and Colts, and his return gives the Dolphins another body to evaluate in camp as they try to stabilize a position that can change quickly in August. For Miami, the move fits a broader pattern of keeping the competition open and making sure there are enough options on hand if the defensive front is tested again in the coming days. [Read more 🡒]