Cooper Rush to reportedly start for Falcons in Week 1 after Tua Tagovailoa sustained injury in practice
Tua Tagovailoa won’t start for the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 after all. Both he and Michael Penix are expected to be inactive Sunday, paving the way for Cooper Rush to get the start, per ESPN.
Cooper Rush will be Atlanta’s starting quarterback today, undrafted free agent Jack Strand will be the backup, and with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. both inactive, wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus will be the Falcons’ emergency quarterback vs. the Steelers.
But Zaccheus’… pic.twitter.com/1IG0cRsYzg
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2026
After waiting all offseason, the Falcons were the last team to officially name a starting quarterback. On Monday, the team announced Tagovailoa would get the nod against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1.
But Tagovailoa sustained an oblique injury in practice Thursday, opening the door for Rush to get the start.
This story will be updated.
