The Atlanta Falcons will be without quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. today, Sunday, September 13, 2026, for their Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tagovailoa is sidelined because of an oblique injury suffered during practice, while Penix continues working his way back from the torn ACL in his left knee that ended his 2025 season.
With both quarterbacks unavailable, Cooper Rush is expected to start for the Falcons against the Steelers.
Falcons vs Steelers kicks off at 1:00 PM ET today in Pittsburgh.
Why Isn’t Tua Tagovailoa Playing Today?
Tua Tagovailoa isn’t playing against the Steelers today because of a right oblique injury.
Tagovailoa suffered the injury during Atlanta’s practice Thursday, just days before the Falcons were scheduled to open their regular season against Pittsburgh.
The injury was significant enough for Atlanta to rule Tagovailoa out Friday.
Tagovailoa had been expected to enter the season as the Falcons’ starting quarterback, making his absence a significant late change to Atlanta’s offensive plans.
He is reportedly considered week-to-week, meaning his availability beyond Week 1 will depend on how quickly the injury improves.
What Is Tua Tagovailoa’s Injury?
Tagovailoa is dealing with an injury to his right oblique.
The oblique muscles are located along the side of the abdomen and play an important role in rotation and stabilization, movements that are particularly important for a quarterback throwing the football.
Atlanta will now have to monitor Tagovailoa’s recovery before determining when he can return to practice and game action.
Why Isn’t Michael Penix Jr. Playing Today?
Michael Penix Jr. isn’t playing against Pittsburgh because the Falcons are continuing to manage his return from ACL surgery.
Penix suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during the 2025 NFL season, requiring surgery and an extensive rehabilitation process.
Although Penix has made substantial progress and returned to full practices, Atlanta is taking a cautious approach before putting him back into regular-season game action.
Penix has also indicated that he wants to have complete confidence in his knee before returning.
As a result, the Falcons are expected to keep him inactive against Pittsburgh.
When Will Michael Penix Jr. Return?
Penix appears to be getting closer to returning to the Falcons lineup.
Current expectations have placed a potential return around Week 2 or Week 3, although Atlanta has not established a guaranteed date for his first game back.
His progress in practice and how his knee responds to increased football activity will likely determine when the Falcons clear him for game action.
Atlanta’s quarterback situation could therefore change quickly during the opening weeks of the season.
Who Is Starting at Quarterback for the Falcons Today?
Cooper Rush is expected to start at quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Rush moves into the starting role because both Tagovailoa and Penix are unavailable.
The veteran quarterback provides Atlanta with an experienced option despite the unexpected circumstances surrounding the position entering Week 1.
Rush has also dealt with back spasms, adding another storyline to Atlanta’s quarterback situation, but he is expected to be available to start.
Who Is the Falcons Backup Quarterback Today?
With Tagovailoa out and Penix expected to be inactive, Jack Strand is expected to serve as Atlanta’s backup quarterback behind Cooper Rush.
Strand entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie, putting him potentially one play away from making his NFL regular-season debut if Rush is unable to finish the game.
That gives Atlanta an unusually thin quarterback situation for its first game of the 2026 season.
Falcons Quarterback Situation vs Steelers
Atlanta’s quarterback depth entering the game is expected to look like this:
| Quarterback | Status vs Steelers | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper Rush | Expected to start | Tua and Penix unavailable |
| Jack Strand | Expected backup | Active depth option |
| Tua Tagovailoa | Out | Right oblique injury |
| Michael Penix Jr. | Expected inactive | ACL recovery |
The situation puts additional importance on Rush remaining healthy throughout Sunday’s game.
How Tua’s Injury Changes Falcons vs Steelers
Losing Tagovailoa shortly before Week 1 represents a significant adjustment for Atlanta’s offense.
The Falcons spent the offseason preparing with Tagovailoa positioned to lead the offense, but his practice injury forced the team to change quarterbacks only days before facing Pittsburgh.
Rush will now have to operate Atlanta’s offense against a Steelers defense that could attempt to take advantage of the late quarterback change.
Atlanta may also lean more heavily on its running game and short passing attack to reduce the pressure on Rush.
Could Tua Tagovailoa Play in Week 2?
It is too early to know whether Tagovailoa will return for Week 2.
Because he is reportedly considered week-to-week, his status will likely depend on how his oblique responds to treatment over the coming days.
The Falcons will be able to provide a clearer indication when they begin releasing their Week 2 practice reports.
His ability to return to practice will be one of the most important indicators of whether he has a realistic chance of playing next week.
Falcons vs Steelers Week 1 Game Information
| Game Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Week | Week 1 |
| Date | Sunday, September 13, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 1:00 PM ET |
| Location | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Falcons Starting QB | Cooper Rush |
Final Update: Why Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. Aren’t Playing Today
The Falcons enter Week 1 without their top two quarterback options.
Tua Tagovailoa is out because of a right oblique injury suffered during practice, while Michael Penix Jr. remains unavailable as Atlanta carefully manages his return from ACL surgery.
That puts Cooper Rush in line to start against the Pittsburgh Steelers today at 1:00 PM ET, with Jack Strand expected to provide backup quarterback depth.
Tagovailoa’s status will now become one of Atlanta’s biggest injury storylines entering Week 2, while Penix continues moving closer to his return to game action.