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.