Kevin Stefanski says Tagovailoa is dealing with a back flare-up but expects him back soon, while Atlanta signs Cooper Rush to bolster a thin QB room.
The Atlanta Falcons unexpectedly needed some reinforcements to their quarterback room just one day into training camp.
Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa won’t practice as camp opens, as he’s held out by what new head coach Kevin Stefanski referred to as a “flare-up” of an undisclosed issue.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that it may be a tight back, but it isn’t thought to be too serious.
Stefanski gave a vote of confidence while eyeing a return for next week.
But it has made for a suddenly rather thin quarterback room as Atlanta made some rosters moves.
They waived veteran Trevor Siemian hours before camp with a non-football injury tag.
The only quarterback fully cleared for practice is currently undrafted rookie Jack Strand out of Division II Minnesota State Moorhead.
With Michael Penix still out rehabbing his third ACL surgery, the team didn’t wait to waste more time having the team get up to speed with an undrafted rookie throwing routes.
In the meantime, the Falcons quickly moved to add veteran signal caller Cooper Rush for insurance.
To read more about the issues suddenly plaguing the health of the quarterback room, here’s the full story from Falcons Roundtable writer Michael Brauner.
Penix won’t rush his return, and is currently cleared for individual work and 7-on-7s but not full 11-on-11 team reps.
That’s where Rush’s experience and stability really comes in handy to an uncertain room at present.
The 32-year-old spent eight seasons in the league with the Dallas Cowboys before last season’s stint with the Baltimore Ravens where he appeared in four games.
His signing gives Atlanta a proven arm while they nurse the health of their two projected starters and don’t have to rely on an undrafted rookie in a chaotic start to their training camp.
