ESPN Analyst Sounds Off on Tua Tagovailoa's Short Leash
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa needs to step up his performance before the team decides to go a different direction.
The Atlanta Falcons find themselves entangled in a QB predicament during preseason. Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and 2024 first-round draft pick Michael Penix, nursing a partially torn ACL, vie for the starting role. With Penix's recovery timeline in mind, Tagovailoa appears destined for the position, but his subpar preseason performance raises concerns.
During a recent game, he completed only 3-of-5 passes for 22 yards and fumbled on the second play, though he managed to recover it. Tagovailoa expressed his disappointment, stating, "It starts with me. I got to be better with that. I thought off of that [second] play, [things] kind of got out of the rhythm." His frustration was evident, as he noted the team's performance was "definitely not up to standard, not even up to par."
ESPN analyst and ex-NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky elaborated on the situation, warning that if Tagovailoa fails to get his act together by November, the team will turn to Penix. However, Orlovsky cautioned that the rookie might not have the full team to work with before the season, posing a challenge if the Falcons opt for him.
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