​Tua Tagovailoa got past his preseason debut for the Atlanta Falcons. However, the team’s performance against the Denver Broncos, including his, left him feeling down after Friday night.Tagovailoa prepares for the seventh season of his NFL career, his first with the Falcons. He spent the first six years with the Miami Dolphins before the team cut him in the offseason. Eventually, he signed a one-year, $1.215 million contract with Atlanta.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. Cooper Rush and Jack Strand took over quarterback duties for the remainder of the game.The quarterback reflected on his preseason debut after the game, via ESPN. Even though it was a preseason game, Tagovailoa wanted the performance to fare out more differently than it turned out.“Frustrated and disappointed at the way things happened tonight as we went out there,” Tagovailoa said.“Just thinking about it, what we put out there is not a reflection of the hard work that we’ve put in the first two weeks into training camp, and it does no justice for the work that our coaches, as well, have implemented. So it starts with me. I got to be better with that. I thought off of that [second] play, [things] kind of got out of the rhythm.”How Tua Tagovailoa and Falcons Played Against BroncosAug 14, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) warm up before a game against the Denver Broncos at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Tua Tagovailoa hopes for things to go well in his new destination with the Falcons. They will look to have solid preparation for the regular season.Denver dominated throughout the first half, leading 24-0 at halftime. Atlanta got on the board with a touchdown in the third quarter but couldn’t ignite a rally as the Broncos set the tone from start to finish.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.Atlanta has two more preseason contests against the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 22 at 1 p.m. ET and the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. ET. After that, their regular season commences on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —