Tua Tagovailoa Sidelined by Back Flare-Up as Falcons' QB Battle Stumbles Out of the Gate

The Atlanta Falcons built their whole offseason around a quarterback competition between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. Less than a week into training camp, neither one has taken a full snap in team drills.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Wednesday that Tagovailoa is dealing with a "flare-up" of an undisclosed injury and won't practice for now. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the issue is Tagovailoa's back, according to Fox News, NFL.com and NBC Sports.

"Tua is dealing with an injury right now. It's not long-term," Stefanski said, according to NFL.com. "He'll be out there sooner than later. But we'll work through that in the next couple days. ... Something flared up. He will be back shortly."

Stefanski offered no timeline or specifics beyond confirming it's the back. He said he expects Tagovailoa back on the practice field "sooner rather than later," and NFL.com and NBC Sports both reported the quarterback is expected back as early as next week.

Penix isn't in much better shape, at least in terms of practice reps. The third-year quarterback tore his ACL last season and still hasn't been cleared for 11-on-11 team drills. He's doing individual work and 7-on-7s, but that's it, per NFL.com and NBC Sports.

Stefanski wouldn't put a date on when Penix gets full clearance. "I don't know the exact date on when that would happen," he said, per NFL.com. He added that he trusts the medical team handling Penix's recovery and that Penix has "the absolutely right attitude" about grinding through rehab without rushing it.

Penix gave his own timeline estimate to reporters Wednesday: "I was told another four weeks possibly going into that next stage but at the same time it could be earlier," he said, according to The Athletic, as relayed by NFL.com. He also said he feels capable of doing more but is being cautious. "I feel like I can do everything, but I have to still be smart about it. I can't afford to have somebody trip and fall and land on me right now."

This is Penix's third torn ACL going back to his college days at Indiana, before he transferred to Washington, and he's not treating it lightly. "I have a long injury history," Penix said, according to ESPN, as cited by Fox News. "The last thing I want to do is rush back just to get back on the field. This is the third ACL. We're not taking it lightly."

With both projected starters out of team drills, the Falcons' depth chart got thin fast. Atlanta released veteran backup Trevor Siemian on Wednesday. For a stretch after Tagovailoa's injury flared, undrafted rookie free agent Jack Strand was reportedly the only healthy quarterback on the roster, according to Fox News.

Atlanta responded by signing veteran Cooper Rush, according to AP News and NFL.com, giving Stefanski a body who can actually run a full practice while the top two options work their way back.

A back flare-up in the first week of camp, before full pads are even on, is common, and Stefanski has been clear it's not considered long-term. Penix's ACL recovery has followed the plan doctors and the team laid out since last season, and Stefanski says he's fully confident in that process.

The timing question looms larger. Training camp exists to let the coaching staff evaluate a quarterback competition Atlanta specifically built by trading for Tagovailoa this offseason. Every practice both quarterbacks miss is a rep that goes to Cooper Rush or Jack Strand instead of the two players this competition is actually about.

Atlanta hasn't made the playoffs, or finished at or above .500, since 2017, according to Fox News. The front office overhaul was built around ending that drought. A clean, competitive camp battle between Tagovailoa and Penix was supposed to be step one.

Instead, less than a week into camp, the Falcons are running practice with their third and fourth quarterbacks. Stefanski says Tagovailoa should be back within days and Penix within weeks. Whether that leaves enough practice time to settle a real competition before the regular season remains an open question.