Michael Penix Jr., Tua Injury Updates in New Rumors on Falcons QBs for Week 2 vs. Panthers

The Atlanta Falcons are still facing plenty of quarterback uncertainty heading into their Week 2 game against the Carolina Panthers with Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa dealing with injuries.

"The Falcons would like Michael Penix to be their starting quarterback when he is healthy, when he is ready and when he can do it," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday. "From what I understand, the original timeframe here was about Week 2 or 3, which makes sense. They did not put him on IR to begin the season, believing that he could be back in that window. 

"It seems at this point, we'll see, that it might be a bit too early for Michael Penix. … He's got to work himself back and feel comfortable being out there."

As for Tagovailoa, Rapoport described him as "day-to-day" with an oblique injury but added, "generally, for a throwing position, it's not usually one week. So if he can't go, then you'll see Cooper Rush out there again."

With Penix still recovering from the torn ACL he suffered last season and Tagovailoa sidelined with his setback, Rush was thrown into a starting role during Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He didn't exactly thrive, going 12-of-22 for 143 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown by T.J. Watt. While asking a third-string quarterback who just signed with the team in July to do too much isn't completely fair, the Falcons may have won if he just protected the ball.

He at least got the ball into the team's top playmaker's hands, as Bijan Robinson finished with 83 rushing yards, 90 receiving yards and a touchdown.

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Maintaining that strategy against a Panthers defense that just gave up 59 points to the Chicago Bears could keep the Falcons in the game or perhaps even be enough to win and improve to 1-1 on the season.

But the NFC South team surely wants to see what it has in Penix for the long-term future after using the No. 8 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft on him. 

For now, though, it may still be Rush under center.