Tua Tagovailoa’s Falcons era begins with a brutal reality check against Denver originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Tua Tagovailoa’s first appearance in an Atlanta Falcons uniform didn’t produce the kind of fireworks the team hoped to see Friday night.
Making his Falcons debut against the Denver Broncos, Tagovailoa completed 3 of 5 passes for 22 yards as Atlanta fell into an early 24-0 hole during the second quarter of its preseason matchup.
Tagovailoa did not throw a touchdown or an interception, but Atlanta’s offense struggled to generate much momentum with the veteran quarterback behind center. The Falcons had difficulty sustaining drives while Denver controlled the early stages of the game.
Falcons get concerning first look
The preseason start offered Atlanta its first opportunity to evaluate Tagovailoa in live game action after adding the former Miami Dolphins quarterback to provide experience and depth at one of the roster’s most important positions.
Tagovailoa started with Michael Penix Jr. sidelined as he continues his recovery from a partially torn ACL in his left knee.
With Penix’s availability a major storyline entering the season, Tagovailoa could become an important piece of Atlanta’s plans. The 28-year-old brings extensive starting experience after spending his first six NFL seasons with Miami, where he established himself as one of the league’s most accurate passers when healthy.
Friday’s performance, however, was more about getting comfortable in a new offense than producing eye-popping numbers.
Tagovailoa attempted only five passes, giving the Falcons a limited sample to evaluate. His 60% completion rate was respectable, but Atlanta produced little explosiveness through the air while Denver built its commanding advantage.
For the Falcons, the larger concern was the overall performance. Falling behind by 24 points before halftime highlighted issues on both sides of the football and gave Atlanta’s coaching staff plenty to examine on film.
Preseason results ultimately carry little weight once the regular season begins, but individual performances can help shape depth charts and roster decisions.
Tagovailoa’s Falcons debut won’t be remembered as spectacular. With Penix working his way back, however, every preseason snap gives Atlanta another opportunity to determine whether Tagovailoa can be trusted if his number is called when the games begin to count.
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