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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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The Atlanta Falcons' former eighth overall pick, Michael Penix Jr., is still working his way back from a torn ACL — the third of his young football career — suffered near the end of the 2025 season. He's participated in 7-on-7 drills and reportedly had a strong practice Monday, but has yet to be cleared for full contact. That's left the door open for Tua Tagovailoa, whom the Falcons signed to a one-year, $1.3 million deal in March, to take over as the starting quarterback.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski hasn't yet named an official Week 1 starter, but it's increasingly looking like it will be Tagovailoa. That became even more apparent Tuesday, when he earned high praise from Atlanta quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, who has worked with a number of accomplished NFL quarterbacks throughout his career, including Baker Mayfield, Joe Flacco, and Aaron Rodgers.
"Oh, he's getting better every day," Van Pelt said. "I think he's becoming more comfortable with the system and the play calls and protection adjustments and everything. It's tough always to come into a new system. So, picking that up — missing the first part of camp set him back just a little bit — but really the last three or four days he's really come on."
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Tagovailoa is looking to revitalize his career after being cut by the Miami Dolphins, the team that drafted him in 2020, this past March. He's coming off a disappointing 2025 season in which he threw for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions across 14 games, posting the worst QBR (37.5) of his career and one of the lowest marks in the league last season. But it was only a few years ago that he was a Pro Bowl quarterback putting up elite efficiency numbers, leading the league in passer rating in 2022 (105.5) and completion percentage in 2024 (72.9%).
Should he recapture that form in Atlanta, Tagovailoa could set himself up for a long-term deal with the franchise down the line. He won't lack for help, either — the Falcons have plenty of talent around him, including All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson, All-Pro tight end Kyle Pitts, and star wide receiver Drake London. And if he keeps building trust with his coaches and teammates, Atlanta could be poised for a big season.
Fans will get their first glimpse of that potential Friday, when Tagovailoa and the Falcons open the preseason against the Denver Broncos at home.
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