The Atlanta Falcons ruled out quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for Sunday's season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers after he suffered an oblique injury during practice Thursday.
Cooper Rush, who took first-team reps in Tagovailoa's absence, will get the start. The Falcons have already ruled out Michael Penix Jr., as he's not yet ready to return from a torn ACL he suffered midway through last season.
"Disappointed for him, obviously," head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Friday regarding Tagovailoa. "He's a very competitive person, but he's going to rally behind Coop (Rush) and do everything he can to help Cooper."
Stefanski added that Tagovailoa's injury is considered week-to-week, and he doesn't know when the signal-caller will return.
Tagovailoa sustained the injury during a throwing drill early in Thursday's practice, briefly remaining on the ground before jogging off the field. He ultimately missed the rest of the session, which was open to the media, and was later listed as a limited participant.
Rush signed a one-year, $1.3-million contract with the Falcons in late July after a one-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens. He started two games for the Ravens last season, going 0-2 while throwing for 251 yards with zero touchdowns and four interceptions.
Since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2017, Rush has started 16 games, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys from 2021-24. The 32-year-old has completed 65.4% of his passes for 3,766 yards with 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
