The Atlanta Falcons got a little breathing room on the injury front Thursday, but the biggest question hanging over Sunday’s home opener still hasn’t gone away: who’s starting at quarterback?
Tua Tagovailoa stayed out of practice again as he continues to work back from the oblique injury he suffered before Atlanta’s Week 1 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has now missed both practices this week, and with Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers approaching, his availability is looking shakier by the day.
Atlanta has not named a starter for Week 2. Cooper Rush and Michael Penix Jr. both were full participants Thursday after splitting first-team work on Wednesday. Rush opened the season in the Week 1 loss after Tagovailoa was ruled out, while Penix sat inactive as the team stuck to the recovery plan in place for his knee.
There was better news elsewhere on the Falcons’ injury report. Cornerback A.J.
Terrell and guard Chris Lindstrom both got back on the field in a limited role after missing Wednesday’s session. Terrell is dealing with a shoulder injury, and Lindstrom is in the concussion protocol after getting hurt in the opener against Pittsburgh.
Billy Bowman Jr. also remained a full participant Thursday. He has been working back from an Achilles injury and was full again on Wednesday, another positive sign for a player who started last season but missed much of his rookie year because of injuries. Bowman was inactive last week against the Steelers.
The Falcons’ report currently includes six players, with three quarterbacks on it:
CB Billy Bowman Jr. | Achilles
QB Michael Penix Jr. | Knee
QB Cooper Rush | Back
OG Chris Lindstrom | Concussion
CB A.J. Terrell | Shoulder
Atlanta has also used designated rest days before as part of its approach for players getting acclimated or following established recovery schedules. Earlier this season, the Falcons listed several players with preplanned practice designations, including Kendal Daniels, Da’Shawn Hand, Jawaan Taylor, and Za’Darius Smith. Those were tied to workload management and acclimation rather than a fresh setback.
That same idea matters here with Penix, whose return has been handled on a predetermined timeline. Stefanski has stressed that Atlanta is staying with that process even while the quarterback situation around Tagovailoa remains unsettled.
The Falcons will practice once more Friday before facing Carolina, and that final injury report should give a better read on Tagovailoa, Lindstrom, and Terrell, while also offering another clue about Penix’s status.
For now, the headline is simple: Atlanta is heading toward its home opener still trying to sort out its quarterback plan, and Tagovailoa’s absence remains the biggest concern.
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