Tagovailoa Struggles in Falcons Loss

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's preseason debut for the Atlanta Falcons ended in disappointment, as he completed just 3 of 5 passes for 22 yards in a 27-7 loss to the Denver Broncos on Friday night. The performance did little to clarify the competition for the starting job, as he continues to vie for the role while Michael Penix Jr. recovers from injury.

Tagovailoa started the game and led two drives, both of which ended in punts. On the second play of the game, he fumbled a shotgun snap, putting the Falcons in a third-and-15 situation that quickly stalled the initial series. His second drive produced a first down on a completion to tight end Kyle Pitts but ultimately gained only seven yards before the punt team was called upon again. After his two series, Tagovailoa was replaced by Cooper Rush.

The veteran quarterback was candid about his performance after the game. "Definitely not up to standard. On the first drive, second play, I couldn't even handle the snap cleanly," Tagovailoa stated. "Small things like that cost us rhythm." He added that the outing was not a reflection of the team's training camp work, saying, "It starts with me, I need to be cleaner and get back in rhythm."