Tua Tagovailoa ruled out for Week 1 after suffering oblique injury during practice

Tua Tagovailoa will miss the Atlanta Falcons ' opening game against the Pittsburgh Steelers , head coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday.

The quarterback, who is considered week-to-week, suffered an oblique injury during practice Thursday. Stefanski said it is not related to the back issue Tagovailoa dealt with at the start of training camp.

Backup Cooper Rush will start Week 1. Undrafted rookie Jack Strand will serve as QB2.

Days after being named the Week 1 starter, Tagovailoa was seen walking slowly away from the action while touching his back and sitting down. He would get up and jog down the field, but did not return to practice.

Tagovailoa was reportedly listed as day-to-day entering Friday.

Rush, who started two games for the Baltimore Ravens last season, took the full set of first-team reps Thursday and Friday.

"I'm not sure what happened, but it's Thursday practice," Rush said. "Practice has to go on and so you're up next, and that was a good day. It was good to get out there and get some real reps with that group, and we'll see what happens."

Michael Penix Jr. was also ruled out as he continues to recover after tearing his left ACL last season. He only returned to full practice two weeks ago, but could be set to take over the No. 1 job when 100% healthy.