Tua Tagovailoa ruled out of Falcons’ opener with oblique injury, Cooper Rush steps in against Steelers
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been ruled out of the team's Week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with an oblique injury, just days after being named the starter. Veteran Cooper Rush will take over as QB1, while backup Michael Penix Jr. also remains out as he continues recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tagovailoa is "week-to-week" and confirmed the oblique problem is unrelated to the back issue that limited him during training camp. Penix, a 2024 first-round pick, started nine of Atlanta's first ten games last year before tearing his ACL in Week 11; though medically cleared, he says he wants to feel closer to full fitness before returning. Rush, signed after Tagovailoa's camp injury, has 42 regular-season NFL appearances, mostly with Dallas, while undrafted rookie Jack Strand—impressive in preseason—will serve as his backup.
In short
- Tua Tagovailoa ruled out of Falcons' Week 1 opener with oblique injury
- Cooper Rush named starting quarterback against the Steelers instead
- Michael Penix Jr. also out, still building back from ACL tear
Explained simply
The Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers are two of the National Football League’s teams, and their opener is the first game of the regular season. Each team relies on its quarterback to lead its attack and direct plays, so a change in that role can affect how the team prepares and plays.
Tua Tagovailoa was recently named Atlanta’s starting quarterback. Michael Penix Jr., a first-round draft pick in 2024, started much of last season before a knee injury; Cooper Rush is a veteran quarterback who has played mainly for Dallas, while rookie Jack Strand is also in Atlanta’s squad.
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