Tua Tagovailoa’s Injury Sidelines Him for Season Opener

On Monday, the Atlanta Falcons announced Tua Tagovailoa as the starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tagovailoa was in competition with Michael Penix Jr., who is still recovering from a torn ACL and has only recently returned to full practices. This made the decision predictable, even though Tagovailoa’s preseason performance was unconvincing.

On Friday, Tagovailoa’s status changed dramatically. He missed the open portion of practice due to an oblique injury sustained during Thursday’s session. With only 48 hours before the Steelers game, his participation became uncertain.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport confirmed that Tagovailoa has been officially ruled out for the Steelers game. The Falcons will now rely on veteran Cooper Rush as the starter, with undrafted rookie Jack Strand as the backup.

Before his injury, Tagovailoa’s preseason included two appearances where he completed 10 of 13 passes for 117 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. This performance failed to inspire confidence, especially given that Rush and Strand outperformed him.

Penix, who previously backed up Kirk Cousins, was already ruled out for Week 1. Tagovailoa’s missed start adds to fan skepticism about his capability as a starter. An oblique strain can heal in one to three weeks if minor, but severe cases take longer. For now, the Falcons must turn to their other quarterbacks.