Will start Sunday
Rush will start Sunday's game at Pittsburgh after Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) was ruled out for Week 1 action, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.
Tagovailoa suffered an oblique strain during Thursday's practice and now will join Michael Penix (knee) on the sideline this weekend. Rush handled the first-team reps in the final two sessions of Week 1 prep and thus will be under center Sunday, with Jack Strand backup him up. Because coach Kevin Stefanski told Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com on Friday that Tagovailoa is "week-to-week," Rush could be in consideration for multiple starts to kick off the 2026 campaign.
More Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Football News
Michael Penix Jr.
Still out Week 1, but FP all week
Penix (knee), who won't play Sunday in Pittsburgh, was seen throwing to practice-squad players during the open portion of Friday's practice, Daniel Flick of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Tua Tagovailoa
Won't play Sunday
Tagovailoa (oblique) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Tua Tagovailoa
Not spotted at start of practice
Tagovailoa (oblique) wasn't on the field for the media-access portion of Friday's practice, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Tua Tagovailoa
Suffers oblique strain
Tagovailoa (oblique) is considered day-to-day due to the strained oblique that he suffered during Thursday's practice, Ian Rapoport of ESPN and NFL Network reports.
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.
Cooper Rush
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.
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.