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Falcons Name Cooper Rush as Week 1 Starter Amid Tagovailoa's Oblique Issue
Confirmed
In Short: The Atlanta Falcons have named veteran quarterback Cooper Rush as their Week 1 starter, following Tua Tagovailoa's oblique injury during practice.
The Atlanta Falcons have named veteran quarterback Cooper Rush as their Week 1 starter, following Tua Tagovailoa's oblique injury during practice. Rush, who spent the rest of Thursday's practice with the first team, expressed his readiness to start, stating, 'Early on I got told that I was going.
Tagovailoa, who was named the starting quarterback on Monday, suffered the injury early in Thursday's practice and did not participate in Friday's session. The team ruled out both Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. due to injuries, with head coach Kevin Stefanski confirming that Rush will act as Tagovailoa's backup.
Rush's start would lower the passing-game ceiling for Drake London and Kyle Pitts, though Bijan Robinson's elite workload projection should remain largely intact. The Falcons will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Week 1 game on September 11 at 1 p.m.
During the open media portion of practice, it was observed that Tagovailoa touched his back before sitting down on the field briefly during individual drills. This development has prompted the team to monitor his availability through Friday.
What's confirmed
- The Atlanta Falcons have named veteran quarterback Cooper Rush as their Week 1 starter, following Tua Tagovailoa's oblique injury during practice. Rush, who spent the rest of Thursday's practice with the first team, expressed his readiness to start, stating, 'Early on I got told that I was going.
- Tagovailoa, who was named the starting quarterback on Monday, suffered the injury early in Thursday's practice and did not participate in Friday's session. The team ruled out both Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. due to injuries, with head coach Kevin Stefanski confirming that Rush will act as Tagovailoa's backup.
- Rush's start would lower the passing-game ceiling for Drake London and Kyle Pitts, though Bijan Robinson's elite workload projection should remain largely intact. The Falcons will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Week 1 game on September 11 at 1 p.m.
- During the open media portion of practice, it was observed that Tagovailoa touched his back before sitting down on the field briefly during individual drills. This development has prompted the team to monitor his availability through Friday.
What's still developing
- Rush is positioned to start if Tagovailoa cannot play because Penix is expected to be inactive while completing his return from ACL surgery.
- Related Players: Drew Lock, Jalen Milroe, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, Cooper Kupp, AJ Barner, Jadarian Price Lock is positioned to start Week 2 and becomes relevant in two-quarterback and superflex formats.
- FLOWERY BRANCH — After a summerlong quarterback competition briefly ended with a starter announcement Monday, the Falcons have been forced to pivot entering their Week 1 bout with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m.
- He previously covered the Falcons for Sports Illustrated and chronicled the Indiana Hoosiers’ fairy-tale run to the national championship in the 2025-26 season.
- Daniel Flick covers the Falcons and NFL for the AJC.
- Way back on the day players reported to the Falcons' facility in Flowery Branch for training camp in July, Tagovailoa was experiencing what he described as back tightness.