Tua Tagovailoa is officially off the injury report, making him available to play, but the big news out of Atlanta is that he is slated to be the backup quarterback for the Falcons against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. This isn’t the start anyone expected for Tua, who was supposed to kick off the season as QB1.
The Tumultuous Path to Backup
It has been a wild ride for Atlanta’s quarterback room already. Tua was penciled in as the starter for the season opener, but a nagging oblique injury during the practice week sidelined him instantly. That pushed Cooper Rush into the starting role for the first two games. Meanwhile, Michael Penix Jr. was still nursing a reconstructive knee surgery recovery. Talk about a revolving door! Now, with Penix apparently good to go and declared QB1, Tua finds himself in an unexpected QB2 spot for Week 3. Head coach Kevin Stefanski had hinted earlier on Wednesday that Tua was trending toward the backup role, and now it’s confirmed.
Falcons’ Injury Report Update
While the QB situation grabs all the headlines, other Falcons players are also dealing with injuries. On the defensive side, cornerback Billy Bowman is listed as questionable with an Achilles injury, which is never good news. Defensive end Samson Ebukam is completely out for Thursday’s game due to a hamstring issue. Good news elsewhere, though: running back Bijan Robinson (ankle), defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus (thumb), tight end Nick Muse (shoulder), and right tackle Jawaan Taylor (rib) are all off the injury report and ready to hit the field. That’s a huge sigh of relief for key offensive pieces like Robinson and Taylor.
So, the Falcons head into Thursday night’s battle against Green Bay with Michael Penix Jr. under center and Tua Tagovailoa ready to step in as QB2. It’s a big moment for Penix solidifying his role, and for Tua, it’s about getting healthy and proving he is ready to contribute. What happens next in Atlanta’s QB saga? We’ll all be watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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