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Falcons OC Weighs In on Tua Tagovailoa vs Michael Penix QB Battle
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Tua Tagovailoa has been given every opportunity to steal the starting quarterback job with the Atlanta Falcons .
Yet here we are, just two weeks out from the regular season, and it's starting to feel like Michael Penix Jr. — who only recently returned to full participation in practice — will be the Week 1 starter.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski hasn't definitively said that yet, but between how Tagovailoa has performed in the preseason and Penix clearing all hurdles in his ACL recovery, things definitely seem to be trending in that direction.
Falcons offensive coordinator Tommy Rees weighed in on how the team plans to evaluate both quarterbacks and make their decision.
"We're really trying to evaluate how they've handled [a new offensive install], what we have asked them to do, and I have been pleased with the progression," Rees said. "We have a very good dialogue between all of us [coaches], so I am not real concerned with voices not being heard or not. There's been an open dialogue and a lot of mutual respect in terms of who we work with. Those conversations will take place, and we will all say our part, and we will move forward together with one decision.
"With Tua, there's more hard evidence on the field. But it's our job as coaches to sift through those processes to make sure that we get a fair evaluation of both guys," Rees added.
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The Dolphins picked up the tab on Tagovailoa, taking on an NFL -record $99 million dead-cap hit just to have him off the team. That allowed the Falcons to sign him to a veteran-minimum deal. Yet he's appeared in each of Atlanta's first two preseason games and has been outperformed by both third-string QB Cooper Rush and undrafted rookie free agent Jack Strand, a former Division II player.
Now that Penix has returned to full work with the team this week, there's a chance he plays in the preseason finale on Friday against Miami — Tagovailoa's former team. But even if he doesn't, Tagovailoa will, and that may be his last chance to prove he deserves to start the season as QB1. So far, he's given the Falcons every reason to believe he can't be that guy.
Week 1 kicks off for the Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Steelers, so the clock is ticking on Stefanski and his staff to make a decision.
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Falcons OC Tommy ReesTua Tagovailoa'sMichael PenixTua Tagovailoa
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