Tua Tagovailoa’s move to Atlanta was supposed to bring some calm to the quarterback room. Instead, the offseason has turned into a rough stretch, and the latest headache came from social media.
On Sept. 1, Tagovailoa posted on Instagram with the caption “For the A.”
Not long after, he appeared to follow up in the comments with “We’re so proud of you!! You got this.”
That’s the part that set off the jokes. The comment was later deleted from the NFL quarterback’s Instagram page, and fans quickly piled on after what looked like a possible slip with a burner account or a post made by someone handling his social media.
“You got this Tua” - Tua pic.twitter.com/MsNhCsCkRU
- Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 1, 2026
There’s no shortage of athletes who’ve been tied to burner accounts over the years, with Kevin Durant being the most famous example. Tagovailoa now finds himself in that same kind of internet mess, whether it was a simple PR mistake or just a forgotten account switch.
The reaction landed because fans already have plenty to criticize. Tagovailoa has taken heat for his play in recent seasons, and his name has been easy bait online all offseason. He was drafted in the same 2020 class as Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts and Jordan Love, which only adds to the scrutiny.
The chatter hasn’t been limited to one viral comment, either. Another Falcons quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., recently showed his viral disbelief in Tagovailoa’s play during a preseason game.
Atlanta is still hoping Tagovailoa can steady things at quarterback for the 2026 season, but training camp and preseason have not exactly inspired confidence. He’s now in a new chapter away from Miami, and this may be his final real chance to prove he can still handle a starting job in the NFL.
That’s where the concern grows for Atlanta. Penix Jr. is still waiting in the wings, and new head coach Kevin Stefanski may ultimately want his own rookie quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft. For now, though, Tagovailoa’s offseason has become one more item on a growing list of reasons the Falcons are under pressure.
In Other News...
Giants Turn To Familiar Ravens Pipeline As Linebacker Need Grows
The Giants added a familiar face to their linebacker room by signing veteran Malik Harrison to the practice squad, a move that gives them another experienced option as they look to stabilize the position. Harrison arrives with five seasons of familiarity from his time under John Harbaugh in Baltimore, then spent a year with the Steelers before landing in New York, giving the Giants a veteran who knows the league and the kind of system demands that come with it.
New York will need to clear space on its 17-player practice squad to make the addition official, but Harrison is expected to be in the mix quickly. For a defense that can always use more depth in the middle of the field, the appeal is obvious, and the Giants are leaning once again on a Ravens-connected pipeline to patch a need before it becomes a bigger problem. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Still Have One Unsettled Roster Issue Before Week 1
The Giants have spent the late stages of the summer still surveying the market for help along the defensive front, with general manager Joe Schoen making it clear he wants to upgrade at defensive tackle. New York has also brought in several defensive linemen for workouts, a sign the team is keeping the door open to adding depth before Week 1.
Practice-squad options are already in place, but the search has not produced a confirmed trade or signing yet, leaving one roster spot on the interior line very much unsettled. For a team trying to get the defense ready for opening weekend, it is the kind of lingering issue that can still shape how the first few games look once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Have One Linebacker Decision Still Hanging Over Roster Cuts
The Giants trimmed their linebacker room as part of roster cuts, and most of the names that hit the wire have already landed somewhere else, either on active rosters or practice squads. One holdover remains in a more uncertain spot: Anfernee Orji, the late-July addition who arrived with some NFL experience from the Saints and Titans and was still working back after a torn ACL.
Orjis situation is a reminder that roster cutdowns are rarely the end of the story in late August, especially for players trying to re-establish themselves after injury. NFL rosters are still shifting, which leaves open the possibility that his next stop could come soon, but for now he is the lone Giants linebacker from that group still waiting for a new opportunity. [Read more 🡒]