The Atlanta Falcons are just a few weeks away from the start of the regular season following the start of the preseason journey last Friday and now gearing up for another showdown.

Coming out of the preseason defeat against the Denver Broncos, the main talking point was the struggles of the first team offense, and especially those of Tua Tagovailoa who did not look improved at all from last year in his first game action for the Falcons.

It was a small sample size, but fans have already hit the panic button with Michael Penix Jr. not likely to be ready to go for the start of the season. During an NFL Network discussion, insiders Marc Ross and Judy Battista did not express much optimism for the position in Atlanta before Penix can get back on the field.

"The process should be to get Michael Penix fully healthy and on the field unfortunately because what I saw from Tua in a limited view looked like the Tua from last year," Ross said of Stefanski claiming the team is "continuing the process" in trying to name a starting quarterback. 

"I agree, watching this looked like the messiest quarterback situation in the league right now. Tua obviously did not feel good, Cooper Rush did not look good, and of course Michael Penix is not fully cleared yet. When he gets fully cleared, it certainly appears he is the best option...Michael Penix, the job is yours."

Ultimately, Tagovailoa -- who is not going to play in the second preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts -- has a lot to prove to the fans and the coaching staff if he is going to inspire any confidence that he can get it done. It may not matter though if Penix is able to get healthy in a timely fashion.

The ideal outcome for the long-term help of this franchise was always Penix finding a way to win the job, and while his knee has prevented that to this point, it is starting to appear like he is the best gunslinger on this roster.

Both him and Tagovailoa will have to play well when they do get out there in order to hold the other off, but Penix even while not taking an 11 on 11 snap yet seems like he could be the best option to give this team a great chance to win in year one of the Kevin Stefanski era.

Fans will continue to count down the days until he can get back on the field.