Last Friday Atlanta Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham said definitively that the team is bringing in Tua Tagovailoa to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting quarterback job, and earlier today The Morning Shift reacted to what Cunningham had to say, and explained why they think the Falcons must play Tua and Penix Jr. in the preseason if the team is having a true quarterback competition.
“I don’t see how you have a quarterback battle without guys playing at least a quarter each of a preseason game.” Beau Morgan said
Tua and Penix playing in the preseason would not only be putting two quarterbacks with lengthy injury histories at risk, but it would also put most of the starting offense at risk as well because those guys wouldn’t play in the preseason without the entire starting offensive line and some of the the Falcons top receivers playing as well.
Maybe Falcons Head Coach Kevin Stefanski decides against it, and chooses a starter based on what he sees in training camp and joint practices, but if the Falcons want to get the best assessment of both Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa then both quarterbacks should play in the preseason.