Tua Tagovailoa, navigating back 'flare up,' believes Falcons holding him out of full practices out of precaution
Tua Tagovailoa spoke Friday about his desire to keep bringing good vibes to the Atlanta Falcons as he addressed reporters during a training camp news conference. Throughout the 10-plus-minute media session, he beamed a smile.
Tagovailoa appeared relaxed, despite the fact that he's in the midst of a quarterback competition with Michael Penix Jr. and regardless of his recent injury. But Tagovailoa referred to the adage of focusing on controlling what you can control and noted that he believes the Falcons are holding him out of full practices out of precaution early in training camp.
That back tightness occurred sometime last week, according to the former Miami Dolphins signal-caller, who said the problem stems from a "flare up."
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Both Tagovailoa and Penix were limited participants in Friday's practice. Tagovailoa, a 28-year-old one-time Pro Bowler coming off a six-season run with the Miami Dolphins, took part in individual drills with other quarterbacks and completed a half-speed walkthrough with the offense late in practice, per ESPN, who also reported that Tagovailoa didn't go through 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 sessions. Penix, a 26-year-old third-year pro still working his way back from a partially torn ACL that required season-ending surgery last year — his fifth season-ending injury in the span of eight seasons between his college and NFL careers — was in for individual drills and 7-on-7s on Friday, according to ESPN.
"I feel good," Tagovailoa said. "It feels good to be out there with the guys, be able to get some reps out there a bit, get some 1-on-1 reps, still be able to throw it to the guys."
Here’s Michael Penix Jr. to Drake London, then Tua Tagovailoa to Chris Blair.
— Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) July 31, 2026
Same concept. pic.twitter.com/DwttiZ00zb
Tua Tagovailoa to Zachariah Branch #Falconspic.twitter.com/Xnd9G98P6a
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) July 31, 2026
Tagovailoa is learning a new offense under Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. The Alabama product emphasized how even just hearing plays in his helmet and spitting them back in the huddle is formative right now. After time off in the summer, rediscovering the flow and rhythm of that process is key, he explained.
"I don't think there's anything out there that you can try to do to simulate those unless — I'd have my wife try to do it, but, I mean, I'm going to be like, 'Give me the paper. I don't think you're reading it right,'" Tagovailoa said jokingly.
"So, outside of that, I don't think you can sort of simulate things like that."
While Tagovailoa and Penix were both sidelined Thursday, the Falcons turned to undrafted rookie Jack Strand to pilot the first-team offense in training camp's infancy. The Division II Minnesota State–Moorhead alum is fighting for a roster spot in a quarterback room that now includes Cooper Rush. Atlanta signed the journeyman backup earlier this week.
As for Tagovailoa, he said Friday he hasn't had a back issue like this before. He's been receiving aquatic-based treatment to relieve the stress he's been experiencing.
When he was asked if he has a sense of when he'll be back on the field in a full capacity, he remarked that he doesn't, personally, "have a timetable."
"But that's a conversation to have with the head coach and with our training staff," Tagovailoa said.
