# Falcons open the season with a QB problem

> Atlanta lost Tua Tagovailoa days before Week 1, and his replacement woke up Saturday with back spasms.
- Title: Falcons open the season with a QB problem · Newsweek
- Summary: Atlanta lost Tua Tagovailoa days before Week 1, and his replacement woke up Saturday with back spasms. Atlanta is starting a backup with a bad back in…
- Keywords: nfl, atlanta falcons, quarterbacks, injuries, week 1, Falcons, open, season, problem, Newsweek
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/sports/nfl/falcons-face-more-qb-uncertainty-1-day-before-steelers-opener-12435929
- Author: Jordan Sigler
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nfl, atlanta falcons, quarterbacks, injuries, week 1
## Tua goes down first
Atlanta lost Tua Tagovailoa to a back injury days before the Steelers opener. The Falcons ruled him out on Friday's injury report.
## Then the backup's back
Cooper Rush, the man stepping in, had back spasms on Saturday. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the team still plans to start him Sunday in Pittsburgh.

> experienced back spasms Saturday but the team said he still will start Sunday at Pittsburgh
## Penix cleared, not ready
Michael Penix Jr. has medical clearance after his third career ACL tear. The hurdle now is mental, learning to trust the knee again.
## An undrafted rookie behind him
Jack Strand is the backup. He joined Atlanta this spring as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State-Moorhead.
## Year one of a new system
Rush credits Kevin Stefanski and coordinator Tommy Rees with getting the quarterback room ready. Stefanski says the group is on the same page.

> You spend more time talking about the 'why,' and the intent of the play.
## A hard place to improvise
If Rush cannot run the offense, Atlanta turns to Strand against one of the more veteran defenses in the league.
## Key takeaway

Atlanta is starting a backup with a bad back in Pittsburgh, and the next man up is an undrafted rookie.