Connect with us
TDA+

Alabama in the Pros

Former Alabama QB ruled out by Falcons due to injury

Jun 16, 2026; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) in action on the field during Minicamp. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

On Friday, the Atlanta Falcons ruled out former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ahead of this Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh.

Tagovailoa was named the starting quarterback at the beginning of the week, but he suffered an oblique injury in practice on Thursday. The former Alabama quarterback appeared to have discomfort when going through throwing drills and briefly went to the ground during practice.

He missed the first week of training camp due to lower back spasms.

Atlanta will start Cooper Rush at quarterback, and Jack Strand will be the backup because Michael Penix Jr. is not available.

The Falcons will open their season on the road against the Steelers, and it will be interesting to see how Rush does considering the fact that he was expected to be the third-string quarterback for Atlanta coming into the season.

Related Topics

Matthew Mason is a writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine with four years of experience covering Alabama athletics. Mason, a senior at The University of Alabama, began covering Alabama athletics for The Crimson White in 2023 and became a Staff Writer in 2024 before joining TDA in May of 2025. Mason crafts engaging articles that showcase his unique analytical skills and deep knowledge of Alabama football as well as his ability to tell captivating stories. Follow him on X at MatthewMason__

TDA+

More in Alabama in the Pros

angry