Falcons make official Tua Tagovailoa announcement for Week 1

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Falcons make official Tua Tagovailoa announcement for Week 1

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Sep 11, 2026 2:33 PM ET

After a long offseason for the Atlanta Falcons with a quarterback battle between left-handers Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa, the team will officially be without both of them for its Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tua Tagovailoa has been ruled out

After suffering an apparent injury at Thursday's practice, Tagovailoa's status for Week 1 was up in the air. The official Tagovailoa news came Friday, and it revealed that he would be out for Week 1 against Pittsburgh.

Tagovailoa is dealing with the oblique injury he suffered at Thursday's practice, and it is severe enough to cause him to miss the first game of the season.

#Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa, who suffered an oblique injury, is experiencing enough discomfort that he will miss Sunday’s game vs the Steelers.

Cooper Rush will start. Michael Penix Jr. is getting closer, but he’s not there yet. pic.twitter.com/qv3MptGHi5
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 11, 2026

Atlanta Falcons will turn to Cooper Rush to start

Penix is still recovering from an ACL tear that occurred last season, making him not quite ready to start the season. Because of that, it'll be Cooper Rush who gets the start for Atlanta.

Cooper Rush has been named starting quarterback for Week 1 pic.twitter.com/mh6BXC8S4j
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 11, 2026

Rush is entering his ninth NFL season and will be with his third team in as many seasons after stops with the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens.

Kevin Stefanski will have to do an excellent coaching job

It's hard to imagine that new coach Kevin Stefanski expected to have Rush starting his first game as the new Atlanta head coach, but that's how the cookie has crumbled.

The veteran coach will have his work cut out for him not only just in the opening week of the season, but throughout the year as the quarterback dominoes continue to fall.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

More must-reads: