Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained an oblique injury in practice Thursday and was listed as a limited participant, according to the team's official injury report.
During the media viewing portion of practice, Tagovailoa threw a pass during a drill, then immediately grabbed at his back before sitting down on the grass. He got up quickly and jogged off, and did not throw another pass during the media viewing period.
Backup quarterback Cooper Rush took all the first-team reps during the team part of practice. Rush said it was the first time since he got to Atlanta that he got significant reps with the first-team offense, and said he was not told whether he would start Sunday against the Steelers but would be ready if needed.
Rush has started 16 games in eight seasons in the NFL, and his teams have a 9-7 record when he starts. The Falcons signed Rush on July 29, the day training camp began, in part because Tagovailoa came into camp with a tight back and missed the first week or so of practices.
Tagovailoa was named the Falcons' starter Monday, with Rush deemed the backup after Rush and Michael Penix Jr. had been in a competition for the backup role. Penix, recovering from left ACL surgery last November, told head coach Kevin Stefanski he did not feel ready yet for live game action, and only returned to practice fully two weeks ago.
