Tagovailoa is coming off one of his worst professional seasons and was limited for the first seven practices by back tightness, marking a first in his career. Despite a lengthy injury history featuring a high ankle sprain, a hip dislocation, and multiple concussions, Tagovailoa remains the strong favorite to start Week 1, according to Kendall.
Quarterback Rotation and Injury Concerns in Atlanta
Behind Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr. has yet to be cleared for 11-on-11 team work. Penix stated to reporters that he had no follow-up appointment scheduled with the surgeon responsible for signing off on his full participation. Meanwhile, free-agent addition Cooper Rush is slowly pushing out Jack Strand in the rotation, splitting second-team reps in 11-on-11 drills during a Saturday night practice at Lanier High School, as reported by Kendall.
Pro Tip: Monitoring the preseason snap counts will provide clarity on whether the coaching staff plans to accelerate Penix’s timeline once medical clearance arrives.
Tackle Depth Examined Following Kansas City Departures
The Chiefs allowed Jawaan Taylor to leave via free agency and traded Wanya Morris to Atlanta in June for a late-round pick swap, according to Kendall. Neither player is currently anchoring the right side. Taylor has missed all practices since signing due to elbow and triceps injuries from last season, though head coach Kevin Stefanski noted that Taylor is attending walkthroughs and is close to returning. Morris has missed several days with a lower-body injury while working mostly at left tackle. This leaves Michael Jerrell, Brandon Walton, and rookie Ethan Onianwa manning right tackle duties while general manager Ian Cunningham scouts roster cuts across the league.
Overhauling the Screen Game Under New Coaching
According to Kendall, offensive line coach Bill Callahan and head coach Kevin Stefanski are dedicating 10-minute practice blocks to improving a screen game that ranked 26th in EPA per pass play over the last two seasons. Left tackle Jake Matthews noted that Callahan emphasizes the unique nature of every screen look during these extensive drills. Despite completing 80 screens over the past two years, Atlanta generated only 5.8 percent of its passing yards from those plays, ranking 29th in the NFL. Players like Bijan Robinson and Zachariah Branch are expected to benefit heavily if the revamped execution clicks during the regular season.
Did You Know?
The Falcons ranked 13th in screen completions with 80 over the last two seasons, but struggled to turn those catches into significant yardage, according to TruMedia data cited by Kendall.
Contract Extensions and Cap Management Strategy
General manager Ian Cunningham has locked up several young offensive core players with early extensions, including Drake London, Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Matthew Bergeron. According to Kendall, Pitts received a deal making him the third-highest-paid tight end in the league at $18 million annually, though Jacksonville quickly followed by paying Brenton Strange $12 million. Bergeron secured a top guard salary at $24 million per year before Tennessee surpassed it with Peter Skoronski’s contract. OverTheCap.com data indicates that contracts for London, Robinson, and Pitts feature a combined 15 void years tacked on to spread out salary cap hits, a strategy mirroring the Philadelphia approach utilized by senior vice president of football administration Bryce Johnston.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is expected to start at quarterback for the Falcons in Week 1?
According to Josh Kendall, Tua Tagovailoa is the strong favorite to start Week 1 despite being limited early in training camp by back tightness.
Why are the Falcons thin at right tackle?
Jawaan Taylor is recovering from offseason elbow and triceps injuries, and Wanya Morris is dealing with a lower-body injury, forcing players like Michael Jerrell and Brandon Walton into early reps, per Kendall’s reporting.
How is the team addressing its struggles with the screen game?
Under head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive line coach Bill Callahan, the Falcons are dedicating 10-minute practice blocks specifically to diverse screen looks to improve upon a 29th-ranked screen yardage percentage.
What is the status of Michael Penix Jr. at training camp?
Penix has not yet been cleared for 11-on-11 team drills as he continues working back from a left ACL tear, according to his statements reported by Kendall.
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