With the Atlanta Falcons' season opener just nine days away, the team has yet to announce who will be their starting quarterback. This decision is crucial as it could significantly impact their performance in the upcoming game.
The current competition for the starting position seems to be primarily between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. However, as noted by Chris Simms on Thursday's episode of PFT Live, the situation raises questions about the validity of this competition, especially since Penix has not been able to participate fully due to injury.
The Falcons have scheduled a press conference for next Wednesday, where they are expected to reveal the identity of their starting quarterback. This timing suggests that a decision may be made even earlier in the week, potentially as soon as Monday, with an announcement possible by Tuesday morning.
If Penix continues to recover from a torn ACL and is unable to play, the Falcons' options may narrow down to Tua Tagovailoa and Cooper Rush. There has also been speculation about the potential of undrafted rookie Jack Strand, though his chances appear slim given the current circumstances.
The decision-making process could become particularly intriguing if the Falcons opt for Rush, who has a career record of 9-7 in 16 starts. In such a scenario, the question arises: why retain Tagovailoa on the roster? His base salary of $1.215 million is not guaranteed, and the Falcons could release him without financial repercussions, as he is still owed $54 million by the Miami Dolphins through 2026.
Signing Tagovailoa initially seemed like a strategic move for the Falcons, given his affordability and previous success against them in Atlanta last season. However, concerns linger about his performance under pressure. When plays do not unfold as planned, Tagovailoa has shown a tendency to struggle, often resulting in him becoming anxious in the pocket.
The Falcons have invested time in evaluating both Tagovailoa and Rush. If Tagovailoa cannot secure the starting role against Rush for the Week 1 matchup in Pittsburgh—where he last played for the Dolphins in December—there may be little justification for keeping him on the roster. Ultimately, if he finds himself behind Rush in the depth chart, it could be in his best interest to seek opportunities elsewhere.
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