Tagovailoa missed practice on Thursday, marking his second consecutive absence. He had been named the starter for Week 1, but an oblique injury sidelined him for the opener. The Falcons are encouraging him to take the necessary time to recover fully before returning.
Reports indicate the Falcons have told Tagovailoa to take as much time as needed before returning to action. During a warm-up drill, Tagovailoa appeared to suffer discomfort, grabbing his back and briefly collapsing to the grass before limping off. Medical observers attributed the issue to the rotational strain involved in throwing.
In the preseason, Tagovailoa appeared in two games for Atlanta, totaling 117 passing yards on 10 completions of 13 attempts, with no touchdowns or interceptions. The season began with questions at quarterback, as Tagovailoa missed the opener against Pittsburgh after an unsettled battle for the starting role.
Cooper Rush stepped in as the starter against the Steelers, but Atlanta struggled offensively, losing 20-13. Rush completed 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions, including a second-half pick that was returned for a touchdown by a defender. This game underscored the Falcons’ ongoing questions at quarterback.
The quarterback situation extends beyond Tagovailoa’s health. Rush has a back issue and is undergoing treatment, while Michael Penix Jr. is progressing in his return from an ACL injury, leaving the Falcons with multiple options heading into Week 2. There is even talk of an undrafted rookie signal-caller as a potential addition if needed.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated he would keep all possibilities open. “We’re working through it. I’m not ruling anyone out. Tua is not going to practice today, though he’s getting better. Cooper and Mike will practice today, so we’ll work through it,” Stefanski said.
Tagovailoa, with NFL experience, stepped into the season with expectations, but an injury disrupted the plan before he could establish rhythm in a new offense. For now, Atlanta has viable alternatives while Tagovailoa works through his recovery and builds readiness for a potential return.
The overall situation leaves the Falcons with a cautious approach: prioritize health, assess available quarterbacks, and determine the best path forward for Week 2 and beyond. As the team navigates this period, fans and analysts will watch closely to see when Tagovailoa can resume practicing and return to game action.
Note: This summary focuses on the players’ status and game implications without external sources or attribution.
