Falcons News: Tua Hurt
Updating a previous report, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa went down in pain during Thursday’s practice with what appeared to be a back issue, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. “The Falcons are prepping for the Steelers with QB3 right now,” Garafolo reported.
#WATCH: I happened to catch the moment #Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa went down briefly during the open portion of #Falcons practice
He stood off to the side for the rest of the period we were able to watch. https://t.co/VyzfRrzond pic.twitter.com/sIO2CtmOkF
— Reggie Chatman Jr. (@ReggieChatman) September 10, 2026
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi offered more detail on the moment itself: “During the open media portion of practice, Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa touched his back and sat down on the grass briefly during individual drills Thursday. It was unclear exactly what had happened. He didn’t seem to throw again after, but media only gets to watch a small portion of practice.” Tagovailoa had already missed the first week of training camp due to lower back spasms, adding some context to Thursday’s scare.
Michael Penix Jr. has been officially ruled inactive for Week 1 as he continues working back from last year’s partial ACL tear, leaving Atlanta thin at the position if Tagovailoa can’t go. Cooper Rush, who was named the backup as recently as Monday, confirmed he took every first-team rep at Thursday’s practice once Tagovailoa was sidelined. Rush enters his ninth NFL season with real starting experience, including a 9-5 record filling in for Dak Prescott in Dallas under current Falcons head coach Mike McCarthy, though he was relegated down Baltimore’s depth chart behind Tyler Huntley after briefly opening 2025 as the Ravens’ starter.
If Rush were also unavailable, Atlanta would turn to Jack Strand, an undrafted rookie out of Minnesota State-Moorhead who impressed enough in the preseason to earn a rare fourth quarterback spot on the 53-man roster.
Had Penix been fully ready to go, Tagovailoa would have already lost the starting job during camp, with multiple reports describing the Falcons as underwhelmed by his play and Penix ticketed to take over as soon as he’s cleared, regardless of how this week plays out. Already carrying a lengthy injury history, durability has never been Tagovailoa’s strong suit, and it increasingly looks like he may not be able to make his Falcons debut in the Week 1 matchup against Pittsburgh.
Given the fluid quarterback picture in Atlanta and the expectation that Penix eventually takes over regardless of Tagovailoa’s health, his fantasy value in deep two-quarterback leagues remains fleeting at best. If Tagovailoa is ultimately ruled out this weekend, Strand would be next in line as Rush’s backup.
