NFL·INJURY·September 11, 2026 02:50 PM ET

Falcons name Cooper Rush Week 1 starter with Tua Tagovailoa out

Michael Penix Jr. will serve as the backup.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 111 min read

Cooper Rush has been named the Falcons starting QB after Tua Tagovailoa was ruled out for Week 1 Michael Penix Jr. will Via @BleacherReport on X

What happened: Tagovailoa is sidelined by an oblique injury. Rush took first-team reps Thursday ahead of Sunday's opener.

More on Cooper Rush

Why it matters: Penix becomes Atlanta's next option if Rush needs to leave the game.

What to watch: Tagovailoa's availability for Week 2 is the next status to watch.

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NFLInjuryAtlanta FalconsCooper RushMichael Penix Jr.

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