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Falcons QB Tua Suffers Oblique Injury; Rush Takes QB1 Reps
Confirmed
In Short: Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is out with an oblique injury, opening the door for Cooper Rush to take over as the team's starting quarterback.
During Thursday's practice, Tua Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury, prompting the Falcons to consider him day-to-day for the upcoming game. According to reports, Tagovailoa touched his back and sat down briefly during individual drills.
Rushing back into action, Tagovailoa's setback could be more detrimental than missing a game, as noted by Fox News. The Falcons had hoped for Michael Penix Jr. to ease back into his starting role, but Penix is expected to be inactive while recovering from an ACL surgery.
Cooper Rush, who has started 16 games in his eight seasons, is now poised to take over as the team's QB1. Rush noted, 'I’m not sure what happened, but it’s Thursday practice,' during his first significant workload with the Falcons' first-team offense.
Rush's increased role in the offense could lower the passing-game ceiling for Drake London and Kyle Pitts, although Bijan Robinson's elite workload projection should remain largely intact. The quarterback conundrum continues for the Atlanta Falcons, adding a new layer of uncertainty to their season.
Jack Strand, an undrafted free agent signed this offseason, could back up Rush. The Falcons' job was initially thought to be Penix's to lose, but the injury to Tagovailoa has shifted the dynamics of the quarterback situation.
What's confirmed
- During Thursday's practice, Tua Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury, prompting the Falcons to consider him day-to-day for the upcoming game. According to reports, Tagovailoa touched his back and sat down briefly during individual drills.
- Rushing back into action, Tagovailoa's setback could be more detrimental than missing a game, as noted by Fox News. The Falcons had hoped for Michael Penix Jr. to ease back into his starting role, but Penix is expected to be inactive while recovering from an ACL surgery.
- Cooper Rush, who has started 16 games in his eight seasons, is now poised to take over as the team's QB1. Rush noted, 'I’m not sure what happened, but it’s Thursday practice,' during his first significant workload with the Falcons' first-team offense.
- Rush's increased role in the offense could lower the passing-game ceiling for Drake London and Kyle Pitts, although Bijan Robinson's elite workload projection should remain largely intact. The quarterback conundrum continues for the Atlanta Falcons, adding a new layer of uncertainty to their season.
- Jack Strand, an undrafted free agent signed this offseason, could back up Rush. The Falcons' job was initially thought to be Penix's to lose, but the injury to Tagovailoa has shifted the dynamics of the quarterback situation.
What's still developing
- Tua suffers oblique injury in practice; Rush takes Falcons’ QB1 reps | ESPN La Crosse 105.5 You are using an outdated browser.
- The Falcons are considering Tagovailoa, who was named the starter in Week 1 by default it seemed with Michael Penix Jr. still not ready to play, day-to-day after suffering an oblique strain.
- But Tagovailoa’s inconsistent practice and preseason play worried the Falcons about whether that plan was sufficient to begin the regular season.
- It got to the point where it was believed the Falcons’ job was Penix’s to lose, granted he was healthy enough to go.
- If Tagovailoa is unable to go on Sunday, Rush, who has started 16 games across his eight seasons in the league, will very likely be thrust in there to start the season.
- Tagovailoa was limited at practice, while Cooper Rush, his backup heading into Week 1, received first-team reps in new head coach Kevin Stefanski’s offense.
- This adds a whole new wrinkle to the Falcons’ quarterback situation, which was heavily discussed throughout the preseason, and not in a good way on Tagovailoa’s part.