Source: Fox Sports
Summary
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Friday that Tua Tagovailoa will miss Week 1 due to an oblique injury, with Cooper Rush starting against the Steelers. Tagovailoa, signed in March, was hurt in practice Thursday. Rush, 32, has 16 NFL starts, most recently with the Ravens. Michael Penix Jr. remains out after a knee injury. The Falcons will play the Steelers on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
Our Reading
This one felt recognizable early.
Tagovailoa limped out of practice, then out of the lineup.
Rush steps in again, like he always does.
Penix sits, again, like he always does.
The Falcons’ Week 1 plan: same as last year, just with a different name on the roster.
Author: Evan Null
Week 1 Drama
The Atlanta Falcons had their Week 1 quarterback situation up in the air, with Tua Tagovailoa suffering an oblique injury in practice. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed on Friday that Tagovailoa would miss the game, with Cooper Rush stepping in as the starter. The injury came just days after the team signed Tagovailoa to a one-year deal in March. The Falcons will now rely on Rush, a 32-year-old veteran with 16 NFL starts, for their opening matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tagovailoa’s Struggles
Tagovailoa, who was a 2023 Pro Bowler, has been dealing with injuries this offseason. He was hurt in practice on Thursday, and a video surfaced showing when he may have first felt the discomfort. The injury has put him on the “week-to-week” list, and he will not be on the active roster for Week 1. This comes after a 2024 season where he completed 67.7% of his passes, threw 20 touchdowns, and had 15 interceptions.
Rush Steps In
Cooper Rush, who has 16 NFL starts under his belt, will now take the reins for the Falcons. His most recent starts came with the Baltimore Ravens last season, and he previously played for the Dallas Cowboys. Rush has been a reliable backup, and now he’ll have the chance to prove himself as a starter. The Falcons will look to him to lead the offense in their Week 1 game against the Steelers.
Penix’s Absence
Michael Penix Jr., the Falcons’ first-round pick in the 2024 draft, remains out of the lineup after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 11 of last season. He will not be on the active roster to start the 2025 season. The Falcons have been relying on a rotation of quarterbacks, and now they’ll have to adjust without both Penix and Tagovailoa.
Steelers Matchup
The Falcons will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Week 1 game on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. With Tagovailoa out and Penix still recovering, the pressure will be on Rush to step up and lead the team. The Steelers will be looking to start the season strong, and the Falcons will need to find a way to win without their top two quarterbacks. This matchup could be a key test for the Falcons’ depth at the position.
