Tagovailoa took part in the Falcons’ preseason finale against the Dolphins. He completed seven out of eight passes for 95 yards, splitting reps with Cooper Rush and Jack Strand. Stefanski, preparing for his first year as the Falcons’ coach, reflected on Tagovailoa’s performance after the game.

“I thought Tua did a nice job operating, obviously moving the football for a couple drives. Plenty to clean up. An avoidable center-to-quarterback exchange. We have to clean that up. And we will. I thought by and large, [he] operated,” Stefanski said, per reporter Marc Raimondi.

Tua’s performance and the QB decision

Tagovailoa has been going down to the wire with Michael Penix Jr. for the Falcons’ starting job. With the preseason over, it is up to Kevin Stefanski to make the important decision.

The Falcons ended the preseason with a 2-1 record, coming out of the finale with a 17-12 win over the Dolphins. Atlanta did all of its damage in the first half, scoring all 17 points as the team prevented Miami from getting a touchdown at any point in the contest.

Brian Robinson Jr. led the rushing attack with five carries for 17 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Kyle Pitts Sr. caught three passes for 57 yards, and Jack Velling made four receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown.

Tagovailoa‘s night ended in the second quarter after he completed 7 of 8 passes for 95 yards. Quarterback Cooper Rush replaced him at quarterback for the Falcons. The game marked a memorable return for Tagovailoa to Miami while establishing the start of his tenure in Atlanta.

How to watch Dolphins vs Falcons in the USA

The game will be available through Fubo and NFL+, giving viewers two streaming options to follow the preseason finale.

Can I watch Dolphins vs Falcons for free?

Fubo is the option to check for a 5-day free trial before watching Dolphins vs. Falcons. The platform promotes free trials for eligible new subscribers, although the length and availability can depend on the specific plan.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

The Falcons are treating this preseason finale differently from their first two games. Atlanta has confirmed that its starters will play against Miami, giving the coaching staff one last live evaluation before roster cuts.

The game comes just days after Michael Penix Jr. returned to full-team work, and he has been splitting first-team reps with Tua Tagovailoa. That makes the quarterback situation the clearest storyline heading into Friday night.

Penix’s return is especially significant because the third-year quarterback was expected to be Atlanta’s starter before suffering a season-ending ACL injury last November. Now fully cleared, he is competing with Tagovailoa for the job, while Cooper Rush and Jack Strand have handled most of the preseason snaps so far.

With the Falcons set to make roster decisions after this game, the finale could give the coaching staff valuable information about the quarterback hierarchy and several other position battles.

For Miami, the emphasis is also on the players trying to secure their place on the roster. The Dolphins enter the final preseason game with Malik Willis listed at quarterback, while players such as rookie wide receiver Chris Bell remain part of the evaluation process.

Miami’s current roster includes Bell, who was selected from Louisville, along with a number of young players competing for roles before the regular season begins.

What time is the Dolphins vs Falcons match?

The Dolphins vs. Falcons game kicks off Friday, August 28, at 7:00 PM ET at Hard Rock Stadium. For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

• Eastern Time: 7:00 PM
• Central Time: 6:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 5:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 4:00 PM

For Atlanta, the matchup carries an extra layer of intrigue because Tua Tagovailoa will face his former team while Michael Penix Jr. continues his return from a torn ACL. He is set to start, while Penix has been ruled out of the preseason finale.

Miami enters the game with Malik Willis established as its projected Week 1 starter, while Quinn Ewers and the rest of the quarterback room continue to compete for roles behind him.

Which quarterbacks will play for the Dolphins and Falcons?

Tua Tagovailoa is set to start for the Atlanta Falcons, while the Miami Dolphins are expected to use Malik Willis, Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller at quarterback in the preseason finale.

Atlanta will not play Michael Penix Jr., who is still working his way back from a torn ACL. Tagovailoa’s appearance carries plenty of intrigue as he returns to face the Dolphins, the team that released him during the offseason.

The Falcons plan to give him the opening snaps before turning to veteran Cooper Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand. Penix, meanwhile, has returned to 11-on-11 work but said playing Friday would be too soon after only three practices in that setting.

Miami’s quarterback room has a different challenge heading into the final preseason game. Willis remains the team’s projected starter, while Ewers is competing for the primary backup role after returning from a groin injury.Miller is also expected to see work, with the Dolphins still evaluating their depth before the 53-man roster deadline.

“Everything we do around this building is competing,” Stefanski said in his press conference. “I know it’s easy to say, ‘position battles,’ and those types of things, but we’re constantly competing. That’s not the focus for our guys. Our guys are pushing each other by showing up and putting in the work.”

The coach is also encouraged by Penix Jr.’s progress during the preseason. “[T]he new part for Mike is just being in there in with a full offensive line, a full defensive line, but he’s been in walkthrough huddles, he’s been in 7-on-7, he’s obviously gone through individuals. So, this is a good — now that Mike is cleared — it’s good that he can start that process of getting back to 11-on-11.”

More options in the Falcons’ QB room

During the Falcons’ latest 34-6 win over the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium, Jack Strand was one of the biggest standouts. Despite his strong performance, Stefanski said his role will ultimately be determined between the backup and third-string positions depending on the circumstances.

“At this point, Jack’s going to work with the twos and threes, but very excited about his development,” Stefanski said. “But it goes back to the earlier point of like all of our young players, we have a plan to bring them along and develop them. And the player development is a huge part of what we do, whether you’re talking about quarterback position, the linebacker position, nose tackle, I don’t care. Player development is important to us and being intentional about how we bring players along is important to us.”

Another test for Atlanta

Like most NFL teams, the Atlanta Falcons have three games on their preseason schedule. They opened with a 27-7 home loss to the Denver Broncos before bouncing back on the road against the Indianapolis Colts.

Atlanta’s third and final preseason test will interestingly take Tua Tagovailoa back to South Florida. On Friday, August 28, Kevin Stefanski’s team will face the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in the final preseason game for both teams.

A tough start to the season for the Falcons

Penix Jr. or Tagovailoa, whoever ends up being the starter for the Falcons this season, knows it won’t be easy. High-risk road trips and key divisional matchups await this team during the opening stretch of the campaign.

• at Pittsburgh Steelers, September 13 – Week 1
• vs Carolina Panthers, September 20 – Week 2
• at Green Bay Packers, September 24 – Week 3
• at New Orleans Saints, October 5 – Week 4
• vs Baltimore Ravens, October 11 – Week 5

How to watch Colts vs Falcons in the USA

The Indianapolis Colts vs. Atlanta Falcons preseason game will be available in the U.S. exclusively through Fubo and NFL+.

Can I watch Colts vs Falcons for free?

Eligible new Fubo subscribers can watch Colts vs. Falcons for free with the 5-day free trial. The platform’s current listing for the matchup shows the game live from Lucas Oil Stadium and includes a “Try for free” option.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

The Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts meet in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL preseason, so Saturday’s result will not affect the regular-season standings. Instead, the game is another important evaluation opportunity as both teams work through roster battles and prepare for the regular season.

The matchup comes after two days of joint practices in Indianapolis, giving both coaching staffs an additional chance to evaluate their players in competitive situations before the game.

The quarterback situation is one of the main storylines. For Indianapolis, Riley Leonard is expected to start and play the first half, with Anthony Richardson taking over afterward as the Colts continue to evaluate their QB2 options.

Meanwhile, Atlanta’s quarterback picture remains worth watching, particularly with Michael Penix Jr. still limited and Tua Tagovailoa working with the first team during the joint practices.

The joint practices also produced some important developments ahead of Saturday’s game. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones completed all 15 of his passes during Wednesday’s session, while cornerback Justin Walley returned an interception of Tagovailoa for a touchdown. Those performances add another layer to a preseason matchup focused more on individual evaluations than the final score.

What time is the Colts vs Falcons match?

The Colts vs. Falcons game kicks off on Saturday, August 22, at 1:00 PM ET. For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

• Eastern Time: 1:00 PM ET
• Central Time: 12:00 PM CT
• Mountain Time: 11:00 AM MT
• Pacific Time: 10:00 AM PT

Atlanta’s offense struggled to generate much production during Tagovailoa’s brief time on the field. “There’s plenty to clean up,” Stefanski said, according to The Associated Press. “I thought it was great being in our building, for a lot of us being in here for the first time.”

Tagovailoa played only nine snaps, completing three of five passes for 22 yards. Atlanta Falcons failed to score during either of his two possessions, with both drives ending in punts. Stefanski acknowledged that the offense “didn’t move the ball well” but stopped short of drawing any major conclusions about Tagovailoa based on such limited action. “It’s hard to give a grade on that sample size,” Stefanski said.

What Stefanski needs to fix with Tua

Stefanski and Atlanta Falcons face a tough task this offseason as they must make the most of their time to improve in areas where they failed, build chemistry, and optimize Tagovailoa’s performance.

The preseason represents an important adjustment period for Tagovailoa after spending the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins. Atlanta signed the veteran quarterback following his release from Miami this offseason, giving him an opportunity for a fresh start with Stefanski and Atlanta Falcons.

Stefanski knows all too well about having a circus in the quarterback room, and having another in Atlanta is simply not ideal. That is why, after his 2026 preseason debut, Tagovailoa cannot be the starting quarterback for the 2026 season. Unless Penix is simply not healthy, there is no way Stefanski starts his new job on the right foot by playing Tagovailoa. Some of the same problems that forced Miami to release him are starting to affect him in Atlanta.

Falcons waiting on Penix

There are still two more preseason games left for Tagovailoa to prove he should remain in the QB1 race. The more he struggles, the more Atlanta Falcons have reason to turn to Penix. It also proves why the Falcons’ quarterback room was always in shambles with Penix and Tagovailoa to choose from. Only time will tell us how this situation unfolds.

The former Miami Dolphins quarterback completed three of his five passes for 22 yards during his limited action. Atlanta failed to generate points on either of Tagovailoa’s two possessions, punting on both drives. Following the loss, Tagovailoa acknowledged that his performance fell well short of expectations, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.

“Definitely not up to standard, not even up to par. Start with the first drive, second play, just being able to catch the snap. Little things like that,” Tagovailoa said. “What we put out there is not a reflection of the hard work that we’ve put in the first two weeks of training camp, and it does no justice to the work our coaches have implemented. It starts with me. I’ve got to be better with that.”

Tua takes responsibility for the loss

Tagovailoa joined Atlanta this offseason following his departure from Miami, giving the 28-year-old quarterback a fresh start after six seasons with the Dolphins. His first game with Atlanta yielded mixed results, as the offense struggled to find its rhythm against Denver.

Despite the limited number of snaps, Tagovailoa placed responsibility for the offensive struggles on himself. “It starts with me,” Tagovailoa said. “I’ve got to be better. That’s it. . . . I’ve got to be better for our guys.”

Tagovailoa’s time on the field against Denver was short, but he showed signs of his production. He completed three out of five passes for 22 yards before Cooper Rush and Jack Strand took over quarterback duties for the remainder of the game.

Tua’s competition under center

Cooper Rush and Jack Strand both attempted more passes than Tagovailoa. Rush completed seven out of 19 passes for 62 yards and two interceptions. Strand was successful on six out of 12 throws for 50 yards while scoring a rushing touchdown. Still, Tagovailoa clearly has much more to give moving forward.

Unfortunately for the Broncos, Nix will not take the field. Quarterback Bo Nix will not play in the Denver Broncos preseason opener at Atlanta, coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. Sam Ehlinger and Jarrett Stidham will each play a half against the Falcons on Friday night.

Nix is coming off two right ankle surgeries in the offseason but did not miss any snaps at training camp. Payton said he will play when the Broncos host the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 21 and again a week later against the Minnesota Vikings.

Waiting to see Nix

Payton said the decision to sit Nix has nothing to do with the rash of injuries on the offensive line, particularly at center, where the team has had three players get hurt, including Michael Deiter, whom Payton said is out for the season with a quadriceps injury. Starting center Luke Wattenberg (arm) and backup Alex Forsyth (ankle) are also sidelined.

Payton said the decision to sit Nix in the preseason opener was made a month ago, but that if this were the regular season, he would expect Nix to play and be 100%. The Broncos’ other starters are expected to suit up for about 15 plays.

What happened to Nix?

Nix suffered a fractured right ankle in the closing minutes of the Broncos’ AFC divisional-round playoff win over the Buffalo Bills in January, had an initial surgery to repair the fracture in the days following the game, and then had a follow-up surgery in April to treat bone spurs in the same ankle.

He missed most of the on-field work in the Broncos’ offseason program and threw on only a limited basis in their mandatory minicamp in June. Nix faces pressure this NFL season. During his rookie season in 2024, Nix played in 17 games. He completed 66.3% of his pass attempts for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, while also running for 430 yards and four more scores.

Last season, the 26-year-old quarterback threw for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, while completing 63.4% of his passes. He also chipped in with 356 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Signs point to the Falcons fielding their starters, meaning Tagovailoa is expected to play against the Broncos as the starting quarterback. The former Miami Dolphins starter, who signed a one-year deal with Atlanta, has a clear path to the starting job as long as Penix is limited to individual work and 7-on-7 drills in practice.

Cooper Rush, who was signed at the start of training camp to give the team another veteran at quarterback, will play behind Tagovailoa. Undrafted rookie Jack Strand will finish the game.

What to expect from Tua in his debut

Since he will likely play just one series, Tagovailoa might feel he has to do something spectacular in his limited time. However, that mindset could put the ball in danger and ultimately lead to a turnover.

Instead of trying to force things, he needs to demonstrate to the coaching staff that he understands and commands the offense. Showing poise under pressure, staying comfortable directing the game, and building confidence with both his coaches and teammates will be key.

Preseason games must be taken with caution, but Tagovailoa and the first team will likely have the opportunity to face off against some starters. It is a first test for Tagovailoa with the Falcons, but not one where he needs to lead a touchdown drive or deliver highlight-reel passes.

Tagovailoa must capitalize on the opportunity

Tagovailoa needs to display poise and protect the football while putting his best foot forward, especially given the tough competition for the starting spot. He must take advantage now while Penix is unavailable, so expect to see a committed Tagovailoa working to adapt to his new NFL team.

How to watch Falcons vs Broncos in the USA

The Atlanta Falcons vs. Denver Broncos preseason game will be available on NBC on Friday. For streaming, fans can watch the game through NFL+ and ESPN Unlimited, while Fubo also carries the broadcast.

Can I watch Falcons vs Broncos for free?

Fubo offers a 5-day free-trial option that can be used to watch the game. It lists the matchup in its NFL programming and allows eligible new subscribers to start a free trial, although availability and trial terms can vary by plan and location.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

The Atlanta Falcons vs. Denver Broncos preseason opener gives Atlanta an early chance to evaluate its new quarterback situation, with Tua Tagovailoa set to start against Denver.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that the veteran will play roughly 10 snaps, but the decision does not make him the Falcons’ permanent QB1. Michael Penix Jr. remains in the competition while recovering from a torn ACL and has not yet been cleared for full-team work.

Denver will take a more cautious approach with Bo Nix, who will not play in the opener. Sean Payton decided to keep his starting quarterback on the sideline despite Nix being healthy and practicing without limitations, with the Broncos instead expected to give Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger significant opportunities. The Broncos’ other starters are expected to play around 10-15 snaps.

That makes the game particularly important for players competing for roster spots and depth-chart positions. Atlanta has several battles to monitor, including QB3, RB3, WR5/6, center, inside linebacker and cornerback, while Denver will use the preseason opener to evaluate its depth and young players as it works toward its final 53-man roster.

What time is the Falcons vs Broncos match?

The Falcons vs. Broncos game kicks off Friday, August 14, at 7:00 PM ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

• Eastern Time: 7:00 PM
• Central Time: 6:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 5:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 4:00 PM

“Nothing too serious, just a caution kind of thing where we’re not rushing it. It was just a flare-up, nothing big, not anything long-term. We’ll be fine,” Tagovailoa said on NFL Network.

After his stint with the Miami Dolphins, where his final seasons were marked by concussions and inconsistent performances, Tua is looking for a fresh start this time with the Falcons. It will not be an easy task, as he will face strong competition from Michael Penix Jr.

The competition with Penix Jr.

Kevin Stefanski was appointed by the Falcons’ front office as their new head coach, and his main task right now is deciding whether Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. will be the starter in Week 1. Both quarterbacks are dealing with different injuries and are trying to catch their new HC’s attention during the 2026 training camp, while maintaining a healthy internal competition.

“I view it as a competition. I understand he can’t take some team reps right now because of what he’s going through, but he’s still being able to compete in seven-on-seven, he’s still able to go through some plays,” Tagovailoa said. “It’s definitely a competition.”

What injuries do Tagovailoa and Penix Jr. have?

Michael Penix Jr. is in the final stages of his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in November 2025, remaining limited in 11-on-11 drills while working toward full medical clearance. Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa has been held back early in camp as a precaution due to a minor lower back tightness/sprain, though he is expected to return to full practice shortly.

The Falcons’ season opener

The Falcons want to become the competitive team they were not long ago, the one that reached a Super Bowl, and to achieve that, they will need to get off to a strong start to establish themselves as contenders in the NFC.

• Week 1, at Pittsburgh Steelers – September 13
• Week 2, vs Carolina Panthers – September 20
• Week 3, at Green Bay Packers – September 24
• Week 4, at New Orleans Saints – October 5
• Week 5, vs Baltimore Ravens – October 11