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.
On Monday, coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Tua Tagovailoa as the Falcons' Week 1 starting quarterback, while conversely Penix would be inactive for the season opener. On Thursday, though, Tagovailoa strained his oblique and now won't be available this weekend, either, with coach Kevin Stefanski calling him "week-to-week" Friday, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com. Penix's listed activity of "full" all week indicates he's closing in on his first game action since tearing his left ACL last November, and if Tagovailoa is indeed in danger of missing multiple games, Penix could soon be in the mix for starts under center. As for this Sunday, Cooper Rush will direct the offense, with Jack Strand backing him up.
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Zachariah Branch
In clear for Sunday
Branch (hamstring) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's contest at Pittsburgh, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Cooper Rush
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.
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.