The Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback situation became tricky when Michael Penix Jr. got injured. While his return remains some distance away, the Falcons signed veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in free agency to steady the position.
But Tagovailoa has done little to silence the questions during training camp. His recent performances also raised questions, while Jack Strand has gained attention after an impressive showing against the Indianapolis Colts.
Because of that, PFN’s Draft Analyst Ian Cummings recently made the case for Strand to climb on the Falcons’ depth chart.
Analyst Ian Cummings Feels Jack Strand Can Compete with Tua Tagovailoa For The Starting Job.
On PFN’s “Football Debate Club,” Cummings revealed Tagovailoa remains the frontrunner, but Strand has forced his way into the discussion.
“Should Tua Tagovailoa be overtaken on the Falcons’ death start by undrafted free agent rookie QB Jack Strand?” Cummings said. “For now, the answer at least is still probably no. Tua is a veteran, and that counts for something, but Jack Strand has been turning heads and throwing a wrench in the Falcons’ QB conversation with his play this preseason.”
“Ultimately, it’s all moot once Michael Penix Jr. returns to the fold from his ACL recovery because they should give him the chance to take the reins first,” Cummings added. “He’s a first-round pick. He’s shown flashes when he’s been on the field, but for that backup spot, man, Tua has not been good in preseason and practice.”
Jack Strand is making a STRONG case to make the Falcons’ roster. 👀
Could the UDFA challenge Tua Tagovailoa on the QB depth chart? pic.twitter.com/zm1nNYP9wG
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 22, 2026
Tagovailoa’s first preseason outing offered little encouragement. The former Alabama standout never looked comfortable against the Denver Broncos. He completed only 3 of 5 passes for 22 yards, failing to give Atlanta’s offense much of a spark throughout the night.
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Then the practice footage has also raised even more concerns around Tagovailoa. Under heavy pressure, the quarterback tried to escape and make a play, but his attempt fell short.
As a first-round pick by the Miami Dolphins, Tagovailoa once looked like a quarterback with a bright future ahead of him. However, injuries repeatedly disrupted his progress, eventually leading Miami to move on this offseason before the Atlanta Falcons gave him another opportunity.
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Last season, Tagovailoa appeared in 14 games and finished with 2,660 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. According to PFN’s QB Impact Metric, he recorded a 72.1 impact score, ranking 28th among quarterbacks.
On the other hand, Strand has made the most of his limited opportunities.
After playing college football at Minnesota State-Moorhead, he joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent. Through two preseason games, the quarterback has already won over many fans.
Even in Atlanta’s blowout loss to the Broncos, Strand showed enough to keep the conversation alive. Then came the Colts matchup, where Strand took another major step forward.
He completed 6 of 12 passes for 50 yards against Denver, but he looked far more comfortable against Indianapolis. With most of the snaps, Strand completed 12 of 17 attempts for 212 yards and a touchdown.
He also added nine carries for 22 rushing yards and another score, giving Atlanta another reason to keep watching his progress.
For now, it seems Tagovailoa will be the Falcons’ starting quarterback. However, if he struggles and Penix also doesn’t play well after his return from injury, then Strand could get his opportunity.
