Less than a week into NFL training camp, one team is already dealing with quarterback injuries.
Tua Tagovailoa, recently signed by the Atlanta Falcons to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting quarterback role, has experienced a “flare-up” of an undisclosed injury, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. While Stefanski didn’t specify the nature of Tagovailoa’s issue, Adam Schefter from ESPN reported it’s related to back tightness.
Stefanski expressed some optimism, saying he thinks Tagovailoa will return to practice “sooner rather than later.” This is good news, especially since Penix Jr. is still on the mend from a torn ACL he suffered last season and is expected to miss the first few weeks of training camp. To bolster their quarterback lineup, the Falcons signed veteran backup Cooper Rush.
Amidst these changes, the Falcons released Trevor Siemian on Wednesday, leaving the undrafted rookie, Jack Strand, as the only healthy quarterback currently available after Tagovailoa’s setback. Penix has been seen practicing alone and participating in some drills, but he hasn’t joined team activities yet.
Penix commented on his past injuries, saying, “I have a long injury history,” referencing his four season-ending injuries while at Indiana University before transferring to Washington. He added, “The last thing I want to do is rush back just to get back on the field. This is my third ACL. I don’t take it lightly.”
Stefanski acknowledged the unpredictability of injuries, which can arise unexpectedly, even at the start of training camp. The Falcons, under new leadership with legendary quarterback Matt Ryan serving as president of football operations, aim to reclaim their playoff status this season.
Since Ryan held the quarterback position, the Falcons haven’t made the playoffs since 2017, and have struggled to maintain a winning record since then, too.
