No quarterback competition yet for Tua Tagovailoa

As the Atlanta Falcons prepare to wrap up their offseason program this Thursday, questions linger regarding the starting quarterback position. With summer break on the horizon before the team transitions into training camp, the competition for QB1 has yet to truly materialize.

Van Pelt: No competition yet

According to Atlanta quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, the lack of a formal battle is purely a matter of logistics. The team signed former Alabama All-American Tua Tagovailoa in March, adding the veteran signal-caller to a room already featuring Michael Penix Jr.

However, the competition is currently on hold due to Penix’s recovery from a knee injury that ended his 2025 season prematurely. After being selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Penix played in the final three games of his rookie year and started nine games in 2025 before being sidelined.

"It’s tough to have a competition when both guys aren’t competing at the same level right now," Van Pelt noted. "We have to understand that Mike’s knee is not 100 percent right now... So, you know, just taking that all in consideration."

Managing the workload

Due to these limitations, Tagovailoa has seen the lion's share of reps during full-team drills. The coaching staff is balancing the workload by leaning on seven-on-seven reps for Penix, who Van Pelt noted has been impressive in his limited capacity.

Van Pelt also shared high praise for Tagovailoa, highlighting his overall knowledge of the game. "He sees it really well," Van Pelt said. "He can undress coverages really quickly. Throws with great anticipation and accuracy."

As the team looks toward the future, the staff remains focused on getting both players to a level playing field. For more NFL news and updates, visit the 205focus.com NFL page.