Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa leaves practice with oblique strain, raises Week 1 starting doubt Tua Tagovailoa exited media portion of Falcons practice after an oblique injury, casting uncertainty on whether he will start the team's opening game against Pittsburgh. Michael Penix Jr. remains in recovery, while Cooper Rush and undrafted Jack Strand could step in if necessary. The Atlanta Falcons announced that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa exited the media viewing portion of Monday's open‑practice after throwing a pass and immediately reported an oblique strain. Tagovailoa was seen sitting on the grass, gripping his right side, before jogging back to the sidelines with teammates McKenna and Cooper Rush taking his place. The injury comes as the Falcons weigh their two quarterbacks for the Week 1 clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers, a game that carries extra drama for Tagovailoa.It will be his first opponent since the last start of his 2025 season in Miami, and the decision could set the tone for the rest of the year. Michael Penix Jr., who had rejoined the team after recovering from a torn left ACL and third career ACL tear, was still day‑to‑day at the time the incident occurred. Although kept from a preseason game, Penix continues to work on conditioning while he remains in an active but uncertain status.If Tagovailoa's injury requires extended recovery, Penix could see the field, but the Falcons' coaching staff has expressed concerns about his readiness. Head coach Kevin Stefanski praised Tagovailoa's effort prior to the injury, saying "Practice has to go on and so you're up next and that was a good day." He also noted that the week's workload was a proper test of the offense, "the mindset of the prep never changes. " Stefanski's approach focuses on ensuring the offense is cohesive even if the starting quarterback slides. Cooper Rush, who made his first official offensive reps with the Falcons during the practice, was highlighted as a potential starting backup. Rush started 16 games in his eight seasons and has now been assigned first‑team reps in Stefanski's offense.Defensive backsley and guard Jordan Hunter are expected to stay in the game plan's core. With Tagovailoa's status unclear, the Falcons also moved undrafted free‑agent Jack Strand into the quarterback mix. If neither Tagovailoa nor Penix are available, Strand could see playing time behind Rush, who could step into a starting role should the primary quarterbacks remain injured. Tagovailoa's recent preseason performance has been mixed.He suffered two fumbles, including one out of a shotgun formation, and the Falcons are monitoring his ball security closely. The team is also mindful of his past season, when he finished with a career high 15 interceptions and was benched for the final three games. The game against Pittsburgh will be the Falcons' first regular‑season matchup, and the quarterback situation remains a pivotal story.Coaches and front‑office staff will be watching to see how Tagovailoa's injury progresses over the weekend and whether the team can field their projected starter on Sunday. As the week approaches, the Falcons will likely conduct additional diagnostic testing, including MRI and ultrasound imaging, to determine the severity of the oblique strain. If Tagovailoa is cleared to start, the team will proceed with its planned offense; if not, the backup option ladder will be activated.Atlanta's quarterback dilemma reflects broader questions about roster depth and recovery times in the NFL, prompting analysts to compare the Falcons' decision‑making to other franchises facing similar injury uncertainties this season.