The Atlanta Falcons' quarterback situation took another turn Thursday when starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained an oblique injury during practice, limiting his participation. Tagovailoa, who joined the Falcons after being released by the Dolphins, grabbed at his back and briefly sat on the grass before continuing. He did not appear to throw passes in the portion of practice open to the media, with backup Cooper Rush taking all first-team repetitions.
Tagovailoa had previously dealt with a back issue earlier in training camp. He signed with the Falcons after being cut by the Dolphins, having previously signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension with Miami before the 2024 season. Tagovailoa's tenure with the Dolphins was marked by concussions in the 2022 season and early in the 2023 season, after which he finished that year with 2,867 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 11 games. Last season, he recorded 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions in 14 games, and was benched late in the year for Quinn Ewers.
Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 overall pick in 2024, is recovering from ACL surgery performed last November. While medically cleared, he is not expected to be active for Week 1. In nine starts for Atlanta last season, Penix threw for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Should Tagovailoa be unable to play, Rush would likely start for the Falcons. Rush, 32, is a former longtime backup for the Cowboys and made four appearances with the Ravens last season, completing 34 of 52 passes for 303 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions.
NFL Network reported in late August that the Falcons' initial plan was for Tagovailoa to start and allow Penix to gradually return. However, Tagovailoa's performance during the summer led to a change in strategy, making it difficult for him to hold onto the starting role. While Penix will not dress for Sunday's game, his potential return could be expedited by these circumstances.