Tua Tagovailoa officially remains sidelined, missing practice again on Thursday, which means he’s almost certainly out of the running to start Atlanta’s Week 2 matchup against Carolina. This is a brutal hit for the Falcons so early in the season, and it throws everything into question.
Oblique Injury Keeps Tua Off the Field
The word from reporters on the scene is clear: Tagovailoa was not out there on the field for the part of practice open to media today. This isn’t a new development either. He’s been dealing with an oblique injury since last week’s practice, and he already missed Wednesday’s session. It’s rough seeing a key player go down with something like this, especially when it keeps them off the field for multiple practices. An oblique injury is no joke for a QB, impacting everything from throwing to movement in the pocket.
The Rush & Penix Jr. Show Begins
So, with Tua out, what’s the plan? Reporters saw Michael Penix Jr. and Cooper Rush both throwing to the starting receivers during early drills. Rush himself confirmed they were splitting first-team reps on Wednesday, and it looks like that’s the plan going forward. Rush got the start in the Week 1 loss to the Steelers, and let’s be real, his performance wasn’t exactly inspiring: he finished 12-of-22 for 143 yards, one touchdown, and two brutal interceptions. Now, the Falcons are relying on this duo to keep their season from slipping away before it really gets going.
Atlanta’s full injury report drops later today, and everyone will be checking it for any sign of when Tua might return. Until then, it’s a huge question mark under center as they head into a critical Week 2 game against Carolina. This is the kind of early season drama no team wants, and the pressure is already immense on Penix Jr. and Rush to step up.
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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