Cooper Rush Took Every First-Team Rep and the Falcons Just Lost Their Starter Before Week 1

The Atlanta Falcons’ big plan to roll out Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback against the Steelers on Sunday might have just blown up on Thursday. Reports from practice painted a grim picture: Tagovailoa apparently hurt his back during the open portion of the session and then didn’t throw a single pass afterward. It sounds like he barely did any work for the rest of practice, either. Yikes.

Tua’s Back Goes Sideways, Rush Steps Up

This is exactly what you don’t want to see just days before your season opener. Tagovailoa seemed to be in real discomfort, and when a QB stops throwing, that’s never a good sign. It’s not like he just took a breather; he was effectively sidelined for the rest of what reporters could see. The team quickly closed the session, but the damage was already done.

Meanwhile, Cooper Rush, who was already lined up as the backup, confirmed he took every single first-team rep during practice. That’s not just a few snaps to stay warm; that’s the whole dang thing. It tells you everything you need to know about how serious Tua’s situation might be. To make things even more dicey, rookie Michael Penix is inactive for the opening game, leaving Rush as the only viable option if Tua can’t go.

What’s Next for Atlanta’s QB Room?

Head coach Kevin Stefanski is scheduled to speak with reporters on Friday, and you know everyone’s going to be holding their breath. This isn’t just about Sunday; this is about the entire early season outlook. Stefanski could very well deliver the news that Tua Tagovailoa’s run as the Falcons’ starter is over before it even had a chance to begin. Imagine the shock if your Week 1 starter is out before the first snap.

The Falcons have a huge game against the Steelers on Sunday. The stakes are massive right out of the gate, and now they’re staring down the barrel of a backup QB starting. It’s going to be a tense Friday in Atlanta, with a lot riding on Stefanski’s words.

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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.