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Falcons lose to Steelers as Tagovailoa sidelined by injury

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 14, 2026, 4:46 PM

Last updated Sep 14, 2026

Falcons lose to Steelers as Tagovailoa sidelined by injury

Summary

The Atlanta Falcons opened their 2026 season with a 20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missed the game due to an oblique injury sustained in practice, leaving veteran Cooper Rush to start. During crucial moments late in the game, Tagovailoa and fellow inactive quarterback Michael Penix Jr. sparked controversy with a casual sideline moment that garnered backlash from fans. Coach Kevin Stefanski labeled Tagovailoa as week-to-week, creating uncertainty around the quarterback position for the upcoming week.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Falcons lost to Steelers 20-13 in Week 1.
•Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was inactive due to injury.
•Cooper Rush started in Tagovailoa's absence.
•Controversy arose over Tagovailoa and Penix's sideline behavior.
•Coach Kevin Stefanski has not named a starter for Week 2.

Latest Updates

4:46 PMYahoo Sports — ‘Missed the Part Where They Were Laughing’: Falcons Fans Torch Tua Tagovailoa’s ‘Uninterested’ Sideline Moment

What they're saying

"
The Atlanta Falcons opened the 2026 season with a 20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa didn’t play in the game due to an injury, but he is still facing backlash. An oblique injury he suffered in practice ruled him out days before kickoff, with coach Kevin Stefanski calling him week-to-week and handing […] The post ‘Missed the Part Where They Were Laughing’: Falcons Fans Torch Tua Tagovailoa’s ‘Uninterested’ Sideline Moment appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
— Yahoo Sports

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