Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is day-to-day with an oblique strain, an injury sustained during practice that has altered the team's preparation for Week 1. Tagovailoa was limited in practice on Thursday, prompting his backup, Cooper Rush, to take first-team reps in new head coach Kevin Stefanski's offense.
The injury introduces further complexity to the Falcons' quarterback situation, which has been a focal point throughout the preseason. The initial plan appeared to involve Tagovailoa, acquired after his release from the Miami Dolphins, starting until franchise quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was fully recovered from a torn ACL. However, Tagovailoa's inconsistent performance in practices and preseason games had already raised concerns about his readiness to begin the season as the primary starter.
Reports indicated that the Falcons' preference was for Penix to gradually return to his starting role. Penix is still rehabilitating from a left ACL tear suffered in Week 11 last season, marking the third ACL tear of his career dating back to his college days.
If Tagovailoa is unable to play in the season opener, Rush, who has accumulated 16 starts over eight seasons in the league, would likely be the starting quarterback. Undrafted free agent Jack Strand could potentially serve as his backup.
Tagovailoa was observed experiencing discomfort during a media viewing portion of practice, appearing to grab his back after throwing a pass. He was seen sitting on the grass before jogging off, and did not attempt further passes during that period, with Rush stepping in. Rush stated that while he wasn't sure of the specifics of Tagovailoa's injury, practice must continue and he was prepared to step in. He noted that this was his first significant workload with the Falcons' first-team offense since joining the team, emphasizing that his preparation mindset remains consistent regardless of his role, though practice reps enhance readiness.
The progression of Tagovailoa's injury will be monitored throughout the week, potentially leading to a Week 1 start for a quarterback who would ordinarily be third string if the roster were at full health.