League: NFL Sport: Football Country: United States Category: Injuries

Cooper Rush takes first-team reps as Tua Tagovailoa handles injury

9 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 11, 2026, 6:07 PM

Last updated Sep 11, 2026

Cooper Rush takes first-team reps as Tua Tagovailoa handles injury

Summary

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa exited practice early Thursday after appearing to sustain a back injury. Following the setback, Cooper Rush assumed all first-team repetitions during the session. Tagovailoa did not participate in further passing drills after the injury occurred. The Falcons are preparing for their season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. Michael Penix is confirmed to be inactive for the contest, leaving the quarterback rotation in flux. Head coach Kevin Stefanski is scheduled to address the media on Friday regarding the team's depth chart status.

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Status Watch

•Tua Tagovailoa appeared to hurt his back during Thursday's practice session.
•Cooper Rush took all first-team quarterback reps for the Falcons on Thursday.
•Michael Penix will be inactive for the opening game against the Steelers.
•Kevin Stefanski plans to provide an update on the quarterback situation Friday.

Latest Updates

6:07 PMCBS NFL — Falcons rule out Tua Tagovailoa against Steelers, Cooper Rush to start at quarterback
5:30 PMYahoo Sports — Tua Tagovailoa not seen at practice Friday
5:29 PMYahoo Sports — Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr. both inactive for Week 1 Falcons vs. Steelers
5:29 PMYahoo Sports — Tua Tagovailoa ruled out for Week 1 after suffering oblique injury during practice
4:33 PMYahoo Sports — Tua Tagovailoa absent from open portion of Falcons practice Friday
8:42 PMYahoo Sports — Falcons news: Is Cooper Rush going to start vs. Steelers amid Tagovailoa injury?
7:48 PMYahoo Sports — Falcons may start Cooper Rush vs. Steelers
7:34 PMYahoo Sports — Cooper Rush did all the first-team work for Falcons on Thursday

What they're saying

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The Atlanta Falcons’ Week 1 quarterback situation might have just gone from complicated to disastrous. Cooper Rush told reporters Thursday that he took all of the first-team reps at practice after Tua Tagovailoa went down in pain , according to Marc Raimondi. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo provided even more concerning context . “After Tua Tagovailoa […] The post Falcons news: Is Cooper Rush going to start vs. Steelers amid Tagovailoa injury? appeared first on ClutchPoints.
— Yahoo Sports