Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has seemingly handed Tua Tagovailoa the starting spot with his latest comments on a podcast with former NFL quarterback Cam Newton.
Penix suffered a partially torn left ACL midway through last season, forcing him to undergo season-ending surgery. He recently discussed the mental challenges he has faced while recovering from another knee injury.
On the podcast, Penix said, "A lot of it is mental. Physically, I got a good ACL. The doctors did what they needed to do. I can go out there and do anything. But mentally, you hesitate, and it's like do I trust it."
Those comments have raised concerns about whether Penix is mentally ready to return to the field and play at his highest level. As of now, Tagovailoa appears to be in a better position to make an immediate impact than Penix.
The Falcons will play the starters in their preseason game on Friday, with Tua Tagovailoa set to start. However, Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski has not named him the starter for the season.
In the meantime, Penix's remarks suggest that he could hesitate when running the ball or attempting to escape the pocket if he feels pressure on his surgically repaired knee. While his honesty is understandable, the comments could potentially hurt his chances of winning the starting job.
The Falcons have an exciting offensive core featuring Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson. However, Penix's injury history has raised concerns about his ability to stay healthy and perform at his highest level.
Penix would have been better off emphasizing his desire to return to the field and compete for the starting role. Now, with Tagovailoa getting the start in the preseason opener, Penix could have an uphill battle to win the job before Week 1.
The Falcons will continue to monitor Penix's progress and assess his readiness to return to the field. As for now, Tagovailoa appears to be the favorite to win the starting job.
Source: Yahoo Sports