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Cooper Rush’s Performance vs. Steelers Could End Tua Tagovailoa’s Falcons Hopes 1
Tua Tagovailoa closed out the preseason on a high note, going 7 of 8 for 95 yards in a 17-12 win over his former team, the Miami Dolphins, to help Atlanta Falcons finish the preseason 2-1. Just days after being named the Falcons’ Week 1 starter, his outlook flipped again. A sudden setback at practice this week has changed Atlanta’s plans for Sunday’s opener against the Steelers, and one analyst says it could change more than that.
Tua Tagovailoa Ruled Out, Cooper Rush Takes Over at QB1
The Falcons officially ruled Tagovailoa out for Week 1 on Friday, a day after he grabbed his side and went down during a throwing drill at practice. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the injury as an oblique strain, separate from the back issue that had limited Tagovailoa earlier in training camp.
Cooper Rush, signed by Atlanta this offseason, will make his first start for the Falcons in Tagovailoa’s place. Rush took every first-team rep across Thursday and Friday’s sessions as the coaching staff prepared for the possibility that Tagovailoa would not play. With undrafted rookie Jack Strand is set to serve as the backup quarterback on Sunday.
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Aug 28, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush (13) calls for a play from behind the line of scrimmage against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Rush is no stranger to stepping in under pressure. Across 42 career NFL games, he has completed 364 of 596 passes for 3,766 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, with 16 career starts.
He also gave Atlanta a preview of what he can do in relief during the preseason finale against Miami, going 13 of 18 for 106 yards and a touchdown after replacing Tagovailoa. A clean, efficient start against Pittsburgh would only add weight to the question hanging over Atlanta’s quarterback room.
Michael Penix Jr., the team’s 2024 first-round pick, remains sidelined as he continues working back from a torn ACL suffered last season. He has returned to full practice, but Stefanski has already ruled him out against Pittsburgh regardless of Tagovailoa’s status.
That leaves Atlanta opening the season with a 32-year-old quarterback who has never thrown a regular-season pass in a Falcons uniform, against a Steelers defense eager to make his Atlanta debut a difficult one.
For Tagovailoa, watching from the sideline while Rush gets that chance is a hard pill to swallow after everything it took just to win the job in the first place. Now, before he has even played a single snap in the role, questions are already swirling about how long he will keep it.
One analyst thinks Rush’s play alone could keep Tagovailoa on the bench.
Analyst believes Rush’s play could cost Tagovailoa his starting job
Tagovailoa’s route to QB1 was not smooth. He signed a one-year, $1.215 million deal with Falcons after Miami released him in March, then spent much of camp fighting through a back issue before beating out Penix for the job.
His preseason numbers looked sharp in flashes, but a limited workload and fumbles in more than one game still left outside skepticism about the decision even before Thursday’s setback.
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Aug 28, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) speaks to Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler (92) after the game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Penix, for his part, is inching closer to a return and could push Rush for reps once fully cleared, adding another layer to Atlanta’s crowded quarterback picture. That uncertainty is exactly what has ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky questioning how secure Tagovailoa’s grip on the job really is.
“If Cooper Rush plays well, Atlanta’s not going to put Tua [Tagovailoa] back on the field just to put him back on the field,” Orlovsky explained bluntly.
“If Cooper Rush plays well, Atlanta’s not going to put Tua [Tagovailoa] back on the field just to put him back on the field.”
—@danorlovsky7 on Tagovailoa being out for Week 1 vs. the Steelers ✍️ pic.twitter.com/rgRwY6JTXQ
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 11, 2026
It is a pointed reminder that Rush’s performance over the next several weeks could shape far more than just one game.
For now, Rush leads a Falcons team eager for a strong start, while Tagovailoa’s recovery timeline stays uncertain. Atlanta hosts the Carolina Panthers in Week 2, and Pittsburgh visits the New England Patriots, with both sides hoping to open 1-0.
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