After waiting the entire preseason, the Atlanta Falcons finally named Tua Tagovailoa as the team’s starting quarterback in Week 1. A few days later, and that status could be in jeopardy.
Tagovailoa reportedly sustained a back injury during practice Thursday. After touching his back and sitting on the ground, Tagovailoa did not throw again in the portion of practice attended by the media.
During the open media portion of practice, QB Tua Tagovailoa touched his back and sat down on the grass briefly during individual drills Thursday. It was unclear exactly what had happened. He didn’t seem to throw again after, but media only gets to watch a small portion…— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi)
Tagovailoa, who is in his first season with the Falcons, also battled a back injury in July. That ailment kept him off the field briefly in training camp. He was eventually able to return to action and eventually earned the team’s starting job.
But even before Thursday, Tagovailoa’s grasp on a starting spot was in question. Michael Penix reportedly pushed Tagovailoa for that role, but Penix still needs more time to recover after tearing his ACL last season.
Once Penix is healthy, it’s unclear whether the Falcons will still stick with Tagovailoa. Prior to the injury scare Thursday, a report emerged suggesting the Falcons would release Tagovailoa if/when he loses his starting role. That doesn’t paint the rosiest picture just days before Tagovailoa is set to make his first start.Tagovailoa’s fall from grace in the NFL has come quickly. After leading the NFL in passing yards in 2023, injuries have limited Tagovailoa’s upside in recent seasons. He sustained yet another concussion early in 2024, prompting concern for his future in the NFL. Tagovailoa was able to return and play after the concussion, and still managed to post solid numbers.
But things regressed in 2025. Tagovailoa threw 20 touchdowns against 15 interceptions in 14 games before he was benched. Once the season was over, the Dolphins decided to cut Tagovailoa, who carried a massive dead-cap hit.
That paved the way for Tagovailoa to sign with the Falcons in the offseason. While he did ultimately win the starting job, things haven’t gone well for the veteran in his short time with his new franchise.
This story will be updated.