Could start Week 1
Rush took all of the first-team reps at Thursday's practice while Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) was unable to participate, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Michael Penix (knee) has already been ruled out, so if Tagovailoa is sidelined by the oblique injury he suffered during individual drills Thursday, Rush would be next in line to get tabbed for the Week 1 start Sunday against the Steelers, ahead of undrafted rookie Jack Strand. Tagovailoa officially went down as a limited participant Thursday, per Raimondi. Rush has a career 9-7 record as a regular-season starter, having gone 9-5 with the Cowboys from 2021 through 2024 but 0-2 with the Ravens last season.
More Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Football News
Tua Tagovailoa
Dealing with oblique inujry
Tagovailoa was limited at Thursday's practice by an oblique injury, according to the Falcons' official site.
Zachariah Branch
Stays limited Thursday
Branch (hamstring) remained limited at practice Thursday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Tua Tagovailoa
Week 1 status in doubt due to back
Tagovailoa (back) could cede the Week 1 starting role to Cooper Rush, who took all of the first-team reps with the offense Thursday after Tagovailoa exited early due to a back injury, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Tua Tagovailoa
Experiences possible back discomfort
Tagovailoa touched his back and sat down briefly during individual drills Thursday, then wasn't seen throwing again during the portion of practice open to media, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Zachariah Branch
Limited with hamstring injury
Branch (hamstring) was limited in Wednesday's practice, Daniel Flick of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Cooper Rush
Backing up Tagovailoa in Week 1
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Rush will serve as the top backup to starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the Falcons' Week 1 game against the Steelers, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Michael Penix Jr.
Will be inactive for opener
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Penix (knee) will be inactive for Sunday's season opener in Pittsburgh, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Michael Penix Jr.
Won't start in Week 1
Penix (knee) won't start the season opener Sunday in Pittsburgh, after the Falcons named Tua Tagovailoa their top quarterback heading into Week 1, Will McFadden and Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports.
Tua Tagovailoa
Will start Week 1
The Falcons will have Tagovailoa start at quarterback in Sunday's season opener against the Steelers, Tom Pelissero of Netflix reports.
Michael Penix Jr.
Will start 'eventually,' if not Week 1
The Falcons plan for Penix (knee) to start "eventually" this season, but head coach Kevin Stefanski has yet to decide whether Penix or Tua Tagovailoa will direct the offense Week 1 in Pittsburgh, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.