The Atlanta Falcons’ season hasn’t even begun, and their starting quarterback is already dinged up. Tua Tagovailoa has been ruled out ahead of their week one matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the former Pro Bowler suffering back discomfort Thursday afternoon, Cooper Rush will start under center for the Falcons.
Falcons Rule Out Tua
After suffering the back injury during yesterday’s practice, Tua immediately sat on the field, and with Michael Penix Jr. still recovering from his torn ACL at the end of last season, Cooper Rush took all the QB1 reps and has been named the starter for week one. With the Falcons having an abundance of offensive firepower, it appeared Tua had a great opportunity to rewrite the next chapter of his career.
What Does This Mean?
Depending on the severity of the injury, the Falcons could be without Tua for a few weeks. Hopefully it’s just tightness, and he will miss the season opener. On the bright side, Cooper Rush does have some starting experience in the NFL. Over the last two seasons, he’s started in 10 games for the Cowboys and Ravens. With a 4-6 record in those starts. Not the best, but not the worst.
Final Thoughts
With the Falcons starting their season on the road against the Steelers, it’ll be a tough task to overcome a defense that’s ready to pounce after their free-agent acquisitions and coaching changes this offseason. We know how loud and rowdy opening day can be in Pittsburgh.
Who knows? Maybe Drew Lock set the standard for backup quarterback performances for the year after leading Seattle’s comeback Wednesday night. What was your reaction to the Tua news, and what does this mean for Atlanta moving forward?
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