Tua Tagovailoa misses Falcons season opener against Pittsburgh Steelers

The Atlanta Falcons officially ruled quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out for their 2026 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Tagovailoa sustained an oblique injury during practice on Thursday after appearing to favor his side while throwing a pass. Head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Cooper Rush will start in his place for the Sunday game. This move leaves the Falcons without their top two depth chart options, as Michael Penix Jr. remains inactive while recovering from a knee injury sustained last season. Undrafted rookie Jack Strand will serve as the backup quarterback for the matchup against Pittsburgh. The organization currently monitors Tagovailoa’s status for future availability following the disruption of their initial quarterback rotation.

• 4:50 PMYahoo Sports — Falcons vs Steelers: Why is Tua Tagovailoa not playing today?