Tua suffers oblique injury in practice; Rush takes Falcons' QB1 reps

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  Marc RaimondiSep 10, 2026, 04:16 PM ET

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  Marc Raimondi's first year covering the Falcons was 2024, but it wasn't his first year at ESPN. He joined the company in 2019 and was a top combat sports reporter. He also covered professional wrestling and wrote the book "Say Hello to the Bad Guys: How Pro Wrestling's New World Order Changed America," which was published by Simon & Schuster in 2025. Raimondi also worked for the New York Post and Newsday, beginning in 2009, covering high school and college sports, plus the NFL, NFL, MLB and NHL.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained an oblique injury in practice Thursday and was listed as a limited participant, according to the team's official injury report.

During the media viewing portion of practice, Tagovailoa threw a pass during a drill, then immediately grabbed at his back and then sat down on the grass. He did get up quickly and jogged off.

Tagovailoa did not throw another pass during the media viewing period. Cooper Rush, the Falcons backup quarterback, said he took all the first-team reps during the team part of practice.

"I'm not sure what happened, but it's Thursday practice," Rush said. "Practice has to go on and so you're up next and that was a good day. It was good to get out there and get some real reps with that group and we'll see what happens."

Rush said it was the first time since he got to Atlanta that he got significant reps with the first-team offense.

"Every throw you throw to Drake [London], every throw you throw to Kyle [Pitts], it matters," Rush said. "And so it's good to get some today."

Rush said he was not told whether or not he would start Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he would be ready if he had to. Rush has started 16 games in eight seasons in the NFL, and his teams have a 9-7 record when he does start.

"The mindset of the prep really never changes," Rush 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."

Tagovailoa was named the Falcons' starter Monday and Rush was deemed the backup. He and Michael Penix Jr. had been in a competition for that role over the spring and training camp. Penix, who is recovering from left ACL surgery last November, told head coach Kevin Stefanski that he did not feel ready yet for live game action. Penix only returned to practice fully two weeks ago.

The Falcons signed Rush on July 29, the day training camp began. His signing then was in part because Tagovailoa came into camp with a tight back and ended up missing the first week or so of practices.

Tagovailoa was released by the Miami Dolphins in the offseason. The Dolphins took on an NFL-record $99.2 million in dead cap to part ways with him. The Falcons then signed Tagovailoa to a one-year, $1.3 million contract. Tagovailoa has had a long injury history, specifically issues with concussions.