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    Falcons sign journeyman QB Cooper Rush

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    ATL Quarterback #15
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    Falcons signed QB Cooper Rush, formerly of the Cowboys.

    Rush will join his third team in three seasons after a rough stint in Baltimore last season. He was signed after the Falcons announced Tua Tagovailoa (back) was out for at least a week. Michael Penix continues to rehab from his 2025 ACL injury, leading Rush as the team’s QB1 for training camp at the moment. It’s not an ideal situation as head coach Kevin Stefanski tries to bring his offense to Atlanta.
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With 10 NFL coaching hires in the offseason, Football Night in America debates who will have the most success in 2026, highlighting Jesse Minter, Joe Brady, and John Harbaugh.

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  • ATL Quarterback #13
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    With two days left to go until the Falcons kick off the 2026 season, head coach Kevin Stefanski already finds himself on his third-string quarterback. With Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) both banged up, Rush will draw the start on the road against the Steelers. This was already shaping up to be a tough matchup for the Falcons’ offense, but with Rush under center, it’s fair to say everybody in that offense will receive a slight downgrade as far as fantasy production is concerned. Rush completed 65.4 percent of his passes while throwing for 303 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions last year with the Ravens.
  • ATL Quarterback #1
    Tua wasn’t spotted during the portion of practice open to the media, so it’s possible he takes the field later in the day. That said, his absence from practice on Friday wouldn’t bode well for his Week 1 availability after he popped up on Thursday’s injury report with an oblique issue. Veteran Cooper Rush took all first-team snaps for the Falcons on Thursday and would be in line to start on Sunday if Tua is unable to go. We should have an updated injury report soon, which will lay out Tagovailoa’s availability heading into the weekend.
  • ATL Quarterback #13
    Earlier today, we learned that the Falcons’ Week 1 starting QB Tua Tagovailoa removed himself from individual drills with an apparent back injury. A report shortly after practice revealed that he suffered an oblique injury. As things currently stand, Rush should probably be treated as the expected starter for the Falcons’ Week 1 game against the Steelers. He is a low-end QB2.
  • ATL Quarterback #1
    Tagovailoa reportedly “missed the first week of training camp due to lower back spasms.” Perhaps they are still an issue. Tagovailoa grabbed at his back before sitting down. After returning to his feet, he walked off the field and watched his teammates practice for the rest of the media’s viewing period. Tagovailoa is slated to start in Week 1 against the Steelers, though he is only a low-end QB2. The team named QB Cooper Rush as the primary backup in front of QB Jack Strand.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
    Veteran QB Cooper Rush will serve as the Falcons’ QB2 in the season opener. Speaking on Monday with the media, Stefanski declined to put a timeline on when Penix could be ready to take the field, instead saying he is “very confident in the plan” they have for the 26-year-old QB. Earlier, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Falcons wanted to give Penix “a couple more weeks” to prepare for the season, so it wouldn’t be surprising if we are a few weeks away from him dressing for game days.
  • FA Quarterback #15
    Having missed out on Andy Dalton and Carson Wentz — tough scenes — Cimini notes that you can’t rule out another trade for the Jets to acquire a backup quarterback. But just of the available quarterbacks, these two make some sense. It’s the first bit of potential interest in Rush we’ve seen since he was released 10 days ago.
  • FA Quarterback #15
    Baltimore brought back Tyler Huntley to back up Lamar Jackson, leaving Rush without a role on the team. Rush made two starts last year and appeared in part of a third contest. He threw for 303 yards, zero touchdowns, and four interceptions. Despite his disastrous play in Baltimore, Rush should be able to find backup duties elsewhere.
  • BAL Wide Receiver #7
    Bateman was ruled out Saturday because of illness. Kirkwood was just elevated from the practice squad, but won’t play in the winner-take-all game. Rush is the emergency third quarterback.
  • BAL Quarterback #8
    The Ravens’ offense has struggled to move the ball downfield with Jackson sidelined. The team initially turned to backup QB Cooper Rush after Jackson was injured in Week 4, but Rush was benched in-game during the Ravens’ 17-3, Week 6 loss to the Rams. From Weeks 4-6, Rush completed 34-of-52 passes for 303 yards and four interceptions, adding four rushes for minus-eight yards. Fellow backup QB Tyler Huntley completed 10-of-15 passes for 68 yards and rushed three times for 39 yards after subbing in. Jackson’s expected return should immediately improve the fantasy-scoring prospects for all Ravens starters. Harbaugh said he expects LB Roquan Smith (hamstring) to return in Week 8 as well.
  • BAL Quarterback #15
    With the Ravens trailing 17-3 and Rush sitting on 11-of-19 passing for 72 scoreless yards and a pick, the Ravens turned to Tyler Huntley, who arguably should have been starting to begin with. Although Rush was one of the league’s more competent backups in Dallas, there has never been any doubt he’s a pure No. 2. With the Ravens on bye for Week 7, today was almost certainly Rush’s final start before Lamar Jackson’s (hamstring) likely Week 8 return.

Rotoworld

  • DAL Running Back #20
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    ESPN’s Todd Archer reports that Cowboys Malik Davis (hip) will have surgery and be placed on injured reserve.

    It is unclear whether this is a season-ending injury or if Davis has a chance to return later in the year. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported earlier that the Cowboys were “bracing for an extended absence” and that a source told him, “it’s bad.” It sounds like Davis’ 2026 season may be over. Cowboys RB Emari Demercado now sits behind starting RB Javonte Williams, and RB Israel Abanikanda is on the practice squad.
  • CAR Quarterback #9
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    NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reports that the Panthers will “likely” decide whether to offer QB Bryce Young an extension in the 2027 offseason.

    Young has two years remaining on his contract, but is currently eligible for an extension. According to Wolfe, Young needs to improve in three areas. First, Young must check down when it’s the responsible thing to do, in turn elevating his completion rate to the “high 60s, low 70s” range. Second, Young must be comfortable playing with tempo and diverse personnel formations, including WR Tetairoa McMillan lining up in the slot more often. Third, Young must play quickly and decisively. Whether he can accomplish these feats is up in the air. He’s a mid-to-low QB2 for fantasy purposes.
  • NYG Wide Receiver #87
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    The Athletic’s Dan Duggan reports that the Giants’ plan to elevate WR Braxton Berrios from the practice squad is unrelated to WR Malik Nabers (knee).

    This one is for the practice squad transactions grinders. Nabers is questionable to play in Week 1 against the Cowboys and has made it clear that he is weighing his long-term health heavily as he decides whether to play. Per Duggan, if the Giants elevate a second wide receiver, that “would be a very discouraging sign.” Stay tuned.
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    Vikings restructured CB Isaiah Rodgers’ contract.

    According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the restructure converts playtime incentives, up to $1.5 million, into a signing bonus “as a nod to his status as a proven starter.” Prior to the new deal, the Vikings also had only $6.39 million in salary cap space, the eighth-lowest amount in the NFL.
  • NO Running Back #41
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    New Orleans Football’s Nick Underhill believes Saints RB Alvin Kamara (knee) will not have a “huge role” if he plays in Week 1 against the Lions.

    Underhill notes that Kamara practiced fully on Friday, “so he’s cleared, but the team is deep at running back.” This is good news for starting RB Travis Etienne, who should lead the team in carries easily and potentially hog snaps in scoring position since Kamara will be less than 100 percent healthy, if active. Saints RB3 Kendre Miller is the next man up.
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    Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said RB Mike Washington is “still a maturing player” and has “earned more opportunities.”

    Overall, these comments are positive, but this is the first time in a while that Kubiak has added a qualifier when complimenting his rookie running back. The Raiders head coach said Washington is “a talented man that we’re going to keep giving opportunities to,” yet notes that the team is now about to go against live defenses “for 17 weeks in a row here before the playoffs, so he’s got to keep maturing.” This serves as a helpful reminder that despite Washington’s strong preseason showing, RB Ashton Jeanty is still the clear-cut starter. Washington can return FLEX value against the Dolphins’ defense, but perhaps Kubiak is considering easing Washington into a rotational role a little more so than he previously indicated. Regardless, Washington remains one of the highest-valued backups in fantasy football and should be rostered in all formats.
  • FA Defensive Lineman #95
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    Lions released DL Levi Onwuzurike.

    Onwuzurike, 28, tore an ACL in July 2025, ending his season before it began. His 2026 salary would have been fully guaranteed if he remained on the roster when Week 1 kicked off, so it is possible that this is just a salary cap maneuver, and we will see the Lions re-sign him to a team-friendly deal soon.
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    Titans claimed OG Atonio Mafi, formerly of the Raiders, off waivers.

    Mafi entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft with the Patriots. He made his way to Las Vegas last year, but was unable to secure a long-term role. He could end up on the practice squad in Tennessee.
  • ARI Outside Linebacker #10
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    Cardinals EDGE Josh Sweat (knee/rest) is not on the final injury report and will play in Week 1 against the Chargers.

    Sweat upgraded to full participation today, which is good news. The Cardinals’ pass rusher was reportedly unhappy with the team this offseason and was ultimately placed on the physically unable to perform list. Today, GM Monti Ossenfort revealed that Sweat had an “offseason procedure,” presumably on his knee. The two sides appear to have resolved their issues, and Sweat is seemingly good to go after a successful rehab.
  • JAC Running Back #5
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    Jaguars RB LeQuint Allen (hip) is questionable for Week 1 against the Browns.

    Allen was expected to take on an expanded receiving role, in addition to his pass-protection duties, but a hip injury has stalled that plan. If active, he is unlikely to do more than help keep QB Trevor Lawrence upright. If he is inactive, the team could employ a committee approach in addressing his vacated duties.