After announcing Tua Tagovailoa would start against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, the Atlanta Falcons have revealed the rest of their quarterback plan, and it isn't great news for Michael Penix Jr. fans.
On Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter revealed that Penix would be inactive for the Week 1 matchup against the Steelers and that Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush would serve as Tagovailoa's backup.
Falcons HC Kevin Stefanski told reporters today that Tua Tagovailoa will be the starter, Cooper Rush will be the backup, and Michael Penix will be inactive Sunday. Penix is not physically ready. pic.twitter.com/z0q7oMihL8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 7, 2026
Considering Tagovailoa’s extensive injury history, the Falcons' backup quarterback plans could actually have a huge impact on the Week
1 matchup against Pittsburgh.
Penix, who was drafted by the Falcons in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, is coming off a torn ACL he suffered in November 2025. Penix was fully cleared for football activities and 11-on-11 team drills a few weeks ago, but it appears Atlanta is taking the cautious route with their quarterback.
With Tagovailoa set to start and Rush set to serve as his backup, the Steelers have a better idea of what to expect in the regular season opener against the Falcons. This, in all reality, should be a winnable matchup for Pittsburgh, but you never know what to expect when it comes to the Steelers and dreaded trap games.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Falcons reveals complete QB plan for Week 1 game vs. Steelers
