Cooper Rush, QB (ATL)

Will start Week 1 despite back spasms

Rush (back) experienced back spasms Saturday but still will start Sunday's game at Pittsburgh, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

With Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) already ruled out and Michael Penix (knee) still sidelined, Rush remains in line to handle the Falcons' Week 1 start, with Jack Strand serving as the backup. Rush has a 9-7 record across 16 career starts, and over 42 regular-season games, he has completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

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More Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Football News

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.

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.

Cooper Rush

Cooper Rush

QB ATL

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.

Ruled out for opener

Tagovailoa (oblique) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

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.

Cooper Rush

Cooper Rush

QB ATL

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.

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.