Now that the Las Vegas Raiders have named Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback, there’s only one team left that has yet to name their QB1, and ironically, it’s the four-time Pro Bowler’s old team, the Atlanta Falcons. The race appears to be down to former Pro Bowl QB Tua Tagovailoa and former Falcons first-round pick Michael Penix Jr.
Yet, in the eyes of some, the Falcons’ competition isn’t really a battle at all. They believe this race is a sham that’s already been one, even if the team isn’t ready to make an announcement quite yet.
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NFL GM: Atlanta Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa ‘Can’t Play’
Aug 28, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks on after the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Falcons kick their season off on Sunday, Sept. 13, yet they still don’t know who their starting QB will be against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Maybe it’s a matter of gamesmanship, not wanting to let coach Mike McCarthy’s Steelers know whether they should spend all their hours preparing for Tagovailoa or Penix, it’s also possible the Falcons are trying to buy as much time as possible for their former first-round pick who’s coming off last season’s partially-torn ACL.
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Yet, one anonymous NFL general manager who spoke to Casino.org’s football insider Jason La Canfora essentially said Tagovailoa’s days as a starting quarterback are over.
“Tua can’t play,” the GM said. “That’s over.”
That’s a cold assessment of a quarterback who’s still just 28 years old. Yet, Tagovailoa hasn’t exactly lit it up during training camp, team scrimmages or in the preseason. He’s also suffered several serious head injuries leading to multiple concussions.
Still, it’s a bit jarring to think that a Pro Bowl QB just doesn’t have it anymore, before they’ve even turned 30, when others are playing well into their 40s. Yet, it’s possible the final chapter on Tagovailoa’s NFL career has already started.
Related: NFL Rumors Tie Atlanta Falcons To Trade For A Quarterback
