Tua Tagovailoa will not start at quarterback Saturday in the Atlanta Falcons' second preseason game; that much we know about the team's quarterback hierarchy. And that's about it with just over three weeks from the Falcons' opener at Pittsburgh on Sept. 13.
When will Michael Penix Jr. (knee) be allowed by doctors to practice fully? Unclear.
What does Tagovailoa have to show coach Kevin Stefanski to win the job? Uncertain.
When will Stefanski decide on the Week 1 starter against the Steelers? Unsure.
The Falcons play a preseason game at the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday afternoon. Undrafted rookie Jack Strand and veteran Cooper Rush will get all the snaps at quarterback. Tagovailoa did his work in Indy already, participating in 11-on-11 team sessions in joint practices Wednesday and Thursday. Penix, as he has done in Flowery Branch, Georgia, worked in 7-on-7s.
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Stefanski said he prefers to play starters in the first and third preseason games. Tagovailoa did not wow last week in a 27-7 loss to the Denver Broncos, and he acknowledged that afterward. He'll likely get a chance next week -- against his former team, the Miami Dolphins, at Hard Rock Stadium.
By then, maybe Penix is at least closer to being cleared for 11s in practice. He said early in training camp that he might be cleared in four weeks, which would be Wednesday. By then, maybe Stefanski is closer to choosing his Week 1 starter, too.
"You put thought into it, but also, those decisions and those type of things, we'll cross that bridge when we get there," Stefanski said. "But in the meantime, feel very, very comfortable with what we've done to date. Feel really comfortable with the guys, the work they put in."
Stefanski said Tagovailoa was "good" in joint practice against the Colts, but the team's protection needed some cleaning up, and "the quarterback obviously plays a role in that, as well." That was an issue in last week's preseason game. Tagovailoa was 3-of-5 for 22 yards, and all four of his targets were short passes to tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. Tagovailoa didn't look completely comfortable, and the Broncos got plenty of pressure.
On Wednesday, Tagovailoa threw an interception and fumbled a snap. He also fumbled the second snap of the game last week against the Broncos.