Falcons quarterback problems deepen as Tua Tagovailoa suffers oblique strain at practice

Atlanta Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski entered his first regular-season game with a new quarterback question after starter Tua Tagovailoa left practice Thursday with an oblique strain.

Tagovailoa, who became Atlanta’s Week 1 starter largely because Michael Penix Jr. remains sidelined after a serious knee injury, was listed as day-to-day. He took limited practice work after the injury, and backup Cooper Rush moved into a larger role with the team’s first offensive group.

The situation creates uncertainty for Atlanta’s season opener, especially after the Falcons spent the preseason trying to determine how their quarterback room would look once Penix returned. Penix, acquired by Atlanta with the expectation that he could become the team’s long-term starter, has not played since tearing the left ACL in Week 11 of last season. The injury was the third ACL tear of his career, including one that occurred in college.

Tagovailoa had been viewed as a short-term answer while Penix recovered, but his own availability became an issue this week. After suffering the oblique strain during practice, he was seen grabbing at his back and quickly sitting on the field before jogging away. He did not continue throwing during the portion of practice open to the media.

Rush, who joined Atlanta as an undrafted free agent earlier this offseason, received significant first-team reps in Stefanski’s offense. He entered the preseason as Tagovailoa’s backup but now could be in line to start if Tagovailoa cannot play Sunday. Rush has started 16 games over eight NFL seasons.

“If something happens, you just have to be ready,” Rush said. “You don’t know what’s going to happen. You just have to be ready to go. It was good to get some reps, and we’ll see what happens.”

Rush said the preparation for a larger role did not change his approach.

“The mindset of the prep really never changes,” he said. “The only thing that changes is that I think you get more prepared because you get to practice, you get reps, you get walk-through reps. I think it helps a lot.”

Atlanta also has Jack Strand available as a possible backup. Strand signed with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent this offseason.

The injury adds complexity to a team that already had questions surrounding Penix’s return timeline and Tagovailoa’s role. Even before Tagovailoa’s oblique strain, there had been concern about whether he was the right option to begin the season if Penix was not ready. His practice habits and preseason performance had drawn attention, and the Falcons appeared to view Penix’s starting job as one he would have to lose once healthy.

For Stefanski, whose coaching tenure with Atlanta begins Sunday, the quarterback decision will be one of the first major tests. If Tagovailoa is ruled out, Rush would enter the opener as the starter in a situation that would normally leave him as a backup.

The Falcons will reassess Tagovailoa’s condition over the weekend.