On Monday, the Atlanta Falcons announced that Tua Tagovailoa would begin the season as the team’s starting quarterback. He was set to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1. Michael Penix Jr. had competed with Tagovailoa for the position, but his return from an ACL injury was still in progress. The decision to go with Tagovailoa was expected, considering Penix’s delayed recovery.
However, by the end of the week, Tagovailoa’s status changed. On Friday, he missed part of practice due to an oblique injury sustained on Thursday. This put his availability for Sunday’s game in question, creating uncertainty just days before the matchup.
Shortly after, NFL insider Ian Rapoport confirmed that Tagovailoa had been officially ruled out for the Steelers game. This decision followed his lackluster preseason performances. In two appearances, he completed 10 of 13 passes for 117 yards without scoring or conceding any interceptions. Notably, he was outperformed by teammates Cooper Rush and Jack Strand, adding pressure on his preseason showing.
With Penix also unavailable for Week 1, the starting role now goes to veteran Cooper Rush, with undrafted rookie Jack Strand serving as the backup. Oblique injuries can heal within a week or extend to several, depending on severity. Missing even one game can impact Tagovailoa’s standing. Fans had already been doubtful about his capability as a starter, and his absence gives them more reason to consider other quarterbacks.