NFL Insiders Sound Off on Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., Falcons' QB Battle in Training Camp

Tua Tagovailoa is reportedly believed to have a significant leg up over Michael Penix Jr. in the Atlanta Falcons' starting quarterback competition as training camps open across the NFL this week.

According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, Tua got the bulk of the starter reps during the spring while Penix was out with a knee injury, and it isn't yet known how much Penix will be able to do in training camp as he continues to work his way back from a torn ACL suffered in November.

Graziano noted that it is believed the Falcons would like to give Penix some playing time at some point during the 2026 season so they can make a definitive decision regarding the fifth-year option in his contract, but whether that happens could ultimately be in Tagovailoa's hands.

Per Graziano, the Falcons have a "mandate from ownership to win right away," which suggests they will ride the hot hand and go with the quarterback who gives them the best chance to win.

An anonymous AFC scout backed up that idea, telling Graziano, "If Tua is running the offense and they're winning games, they're not going to throw Penix in there just to get a look at him."

The 28-year-old Tagovailoa spent his first six NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins, going 44-32 in 76 starts, and throwing for 18,166 yards, 120 touchdowns and 59 interceptions.

While he had a hand in leading the Dolphins to the playoffs twice, they missed the postseason in both 2024 and 2025, and his play dropped off significantly after setting career highs with 4,624 passing yards and 29 touchdowns in 2023.

Injuries have long been an issue for Tagovailoa as well, as he started every game in a season only once during his time in Miami. Tagovailoa is currently sidelined with a back injury, but is expected back "sooner rather than later," per head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Penix has similar injury woes dating back to his college years, and they have followed him to the NFL, as a torn ACL cut his 2025 season short after going 3-6 and throwing for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions in nine starts.

The Falcons invested the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft into Penix, so while him winning the starting job, holding it and being the franchise quarterback moving forward would be the ideal scenario, he seemingly has some catching up to do in terms of beating out Tua for the starter role.