Moving on from Raheem Morris and bringing in Kevin Stefanski as the new head coach, the Atlanta Falcons needed options at the quarterback spot. With Michael Penix Jr. nursing an injury with no sure timeline, they opted to bring in Tua Tagovailoa.
However, just weeks before the season begins, the general feeling about the veteran quarterback has been far from positive. As opinions continue to sour, one insider believes there is a possibility that he doesn’t even remain on the team.
Tua Tagovailoa Just Isn’t Going to Cut It Anymore
A first-round pick for the Miami Dolphins, Tagovailoa had some incredible high points with the franchise. However, his injury history, with a ton of concussion problems, has severely limited him at this point.
As a result, the Dolphins chose to cut him, allowing the Falcons to swoop in after a season where he ranked at number 28 on PFN’s Quarterback Impact Metrics. But through the offseason, and especially after training camp began, his stock has cratered.
Now, Mike Florio of NBC Sports believes the worst could be in his future as soon as next week.
On the latest episode of “Pro Football Talk,” the veteran insider was aghast at the tape he’d seen from Tagovailoa, particularly from a joint practice against the Indianapolis Colts.
“Here’s a guy who’s in his seventh season, and he’s failing the eyeball test. He’s progressively getting worse. His vision is getting worse every year. Or ours is. It’s bad. It just doesn’t look like an NFL quarterback anymore.”
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The clip in question saw the former Pro Bowler try to create something off script. But the entire play blew open, and he essentially threw the ball right in front of him. The video had gone viral on social media, with fans blasting his downfall.
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Florio, though, took it a step further. With roster cuts coming at the end of the preseason as teams finalize their 53-man roster, he believes Tagovailoa could be expendable for the Falcons, particularly with Penix inching towards a return.
“Do you want him on your team at this point? Would you want him on your team? Cuz I think there’s a chance they’re going to cut him.”
It remains to be seen if that is the direction Stefanski and the Falcons take going into the season.
However, if Penix can be back in time to suit up in Week 1, then the veteran presence and reliability of Tagovailoa could be a smart backup option.
