Tua Tagovailoa Fantasy Stats

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains firmly entrenched in the backup role, and it appears that he's stuck in his No. 2 position on the depth chart given how well starter Michael Penix Jr. has played lately. Penix has 479 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in two games since returning from injury, and he has turned the team around from a 0-2 start to a 2-2 record and a tie for first place in the NFC South. Other than an injury to Penix, Tagovailoa's only path to meaningful playing time would have required the former Washington product to play poorly. Instead, he's looked great, widening the gap between him and Tagovailoa and solidifying himself in the starting role. As long as Penix is healthy, Tagovailoa can be left on waivers in both redraft and dynasty fantasy football leagues.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) will serve as Michael Penix Jr.'s backup for the Thursday night game in Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers, a source told James Palmer of the NFL Network. Tagovailoa was all set to start in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers before he injured his oblique just days before in practice. He was eventually ruled out, and he also sat out of the team's Week 2 loss to the Carolina Panthers. There was a previous report that suggested that once Penix recovered from his partially torn ACL that he suffered last year, the Falcons could consider releasing Tagovailoa, but that apparently will not happen, at least not for now. After starting Cooper Rush in the first two games of the season, Atlanta's QB room is now fully healthy, with Penix set to make his season debut on Thursday Night Football, and Tagovailoa backing him up. As long as Penix stays healthy this season, Tagovailoa will most likely remain as the Falcons' backup, giving him little fantasy football appeal.

When asked about quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) on Monday, Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said that he is "getting better," according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We'll work through what that means for this week, but definitely is getting better." The 28-year-old former Miami Dolphins QB was on track to start in the Week 1 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers before injuring his oblique just days before in practice. He has been inactive for the team's first two games of the 2026 season, and with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) potentially making his season debut in Week 3 on Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers, Tagovailoa's time in Atlanta could already be up. Stefanski is not tipping his hand on the QB situation on Monday, even on a short week, but it would be very surprising if Tagovailoa gets the nod over Penix, Cooper Rush, or even undrafted rookie Jack Strand on a short week.

The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) missed a second straight day of practice on Thursday with an oblique injury and is not going to play in Week 2 on Sunday against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Veteran backup Cooper Rush has been dealing with back spasms, but he made the start in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and will be available to make another start this weekend against Carolina. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is still recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered late last year, but he has also been a full participant in practice this week and split first-team reps with Rush on Thursday. The Falcons are being cautious with Penix, whom they view as their long-term franchise QB, and he was also a full practice participant last week before he was eventually ruled out in Week 1. Because Penix has not taken all of the first-team reps in practice this week, Rapoport believes that Rush will make a second straight start this week. Meanwhile, Tagovailoa, who continues to struggle to stay healthy, could be cut by the Falcons once Penix is given the green light to make his 2026 debut.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) was not seen at practice on Thursday, according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Tagovailoa tweaked his oblique muscle in practice last Thursday and was inactive in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, and he is trending in the wrong direction to play this Sunday against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Veteran backup Cooper Rush made the start in Week 1 with both Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) unavailable. Penix was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, but it remains to be seen if the Falcons will clear him to make his 2026 debut this weekend. Tagovailoa has not been ruled out yet for a second straight week, but it is looking more unlikely that he will start for the Falcons against Carolina. The 28-year-old former fifth overall pick was cut by the Miami Dolphins and was hoping to turn things around in Atlanta, but injuries have reared their head again, on top of Tagovailoa struggling mightily as a passer for the Falcons during training camp. Once Penix returns from the partially torn ACL he suffered late last year, it is possible that the Falcons will cut Tagovailoa.

Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) will not practice on Wednesday, but he is getting better, according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Tagovailoa was set to start in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but an oblique injury he suffered in practice last Thursday knocked him out and forced veteran backup Cooper Rush to start under center. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is still recovering from a partially torn ACL last year and will not be ready for Week 2 against the division-rival Carolina Panthers, so if Tagovailoa does not gain clearance by the end of the week, Rush will likely make a second straight start. Tagovailoa was hoping to bounce back in 2026 after being released by the Miami Dolphins, but he is not off to a great start after looking pretty bad in training camp and the preseason before his oblique injury. The former first-rounder from Alabama is merely a short-term, stopgap option for the Falcons (when healthy) as they wait for Penix to complete the final stages of his ACL recovery.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) has been ruled out for Sunday's season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers after popping up on Thursday's injury report with an oblique injury, as reported by NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Tagovailoa signed a one-year, veteran minimum deal with the Falcons after being released by the Dolphins. Following a rocky training camp and preseason that began with back spasms, he was recently named the Week 1 starter, as 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. (knee) continues to work his way back from the ACL tear that ended his 2025 season. Penix, who is still listed as the fourth quarterback on the team's unofficial depth chart, has been a full practice participant to begin the week, so there is a chance he could now step into the Week 1 starting role. If not, the Falcons will begin the year with either Cooper Rush or undrafted rookie Jack Strand under center. A report from The Palm Beach Post's Joe Schad (citing Pro Football Talk) suggests that there is a "strong possibility" that Tagovailoa is released if/when he is replaced as the starting QB. Now that more injury issues have popped up for the former first-rounder, he might not even end up taking a single snap in a regular-season game for Atlanta.

Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (oblique), who was listed as limited in Thursday's practice, suffered an oblique strain that is considered day-to-day, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Tagovailoa's status for Sunday's Week 1 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers is to be determined. The former Miami Dolphins signal-caller went to the ground during individual drills on Thursday and was grabbing at his lower back. He did not return and was replaced by Cooper Rush with the first-team offense. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) has already been ruled out as he continues to recover from a partially torn ACL in his knee from late last year. If Tua is ruled out on Friday, Rush will be the one starting under center for the Falcons on Sunday, with undrafted rookie Jack Strand backing him up. Fantasy managers in deep two-QB superflex leagues who were planning on starting Tagovailoa this weekend against Pittsburgh need to go in another direction. We would be surprised if Tagovailoa is cleared to start in just a few days.

Updating a previous report, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) was added to the injury report on Thursday with an oblique injury, according to Tori McElhaney of the team's official website. Tagovailoa was listed as limited on Thursday's report. During the open period of Thursday's practice, Tagovailoa was seen touching his back before sitting down on the field during individual drills. The Falcons already announced that Michael Penix Jr. (knee) will not be active for Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, so if Tagovailoa cannot play, it will likely be Cooper Rush making the start under center for the Falcons in the season opener. Tagovailoa joined the Falcons this offseason hoping for a new start after the Dolphins cut him after a disappointing 2025 campaign in which he was benched late in the year. Tua also dealt with back spasms early in training camp, so it seems more unlikely that he will be able to recover in just a couple of days and start on Sunday. This new injury could threaten Tagovailoa's chances of ever starting a game for the Falcons in 2026.

Updating a previous report, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (back) went down in Thursday's practice with what looked like lower-back pain, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. The Falcons are prepping to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 with a QB3 right now. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is not cleared yet after suffering a partial tear of his ACL, so if Tua cannot go on Sunday, it could be Cooper Rush who gets the nod under center. ESPN's Marc Raimondi reports that Rush said he took all of the reps with the first-team offense on Thursday after Tagovailoa tweaked his back. If not for Penix not being quite ready to return, Tagovailoa most likely would have lost the QB competition during training camp in his first year outside of Miami. Already with a concerning history of head injuries, durability is not Tua's strong suit, and it now looks like he will not be able to make his Falcons debut in Week 1. The Falcons' plan is to let Penix take over the starting gig in Atlanta when he is ready, so Tagovailoa's fantasy value in deep two-QB leagues will be fleeting. If Tagovailoa is ruled out this weekend, Jack Strand would be in line to serve as Rush's backup.