Rush stalls out Falcons’ offense in loss to Steelers

Rush sits ahead of Strand on the depth chart and has been labeled as this evening’s emergency third quarterback. Hopefully, it doesn’t come to that. Week 3 marks QB Michael Penix’s return to action following last year’s season-ending knee injury.

With the Falcons set to play on Thursday night, Stefanski will have little time to prepare his starter for the week. It’s hard to imagine the team going back to Cooper Rush after back-to-back disastrous starts to open the season, which could pave the way for rookie UDFA Jack Strand to make the start of Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) still aren’t ready to go. Strand completed 8-of-15 passes for 59 yards and an interception in his first taste of NFL action. Stefanski did say he had a “decent idea” of who he thinks he will be starting this week, so we’ll likely have our answer soon.

Rush opened the game with a lost fumble on Atlanta’s first offensive play of the day. Things somehow got worse from there. He was intercepted twice and nearly threw a third, but it went through the hands of Panthers linebacker Bobby Okereke. Rush was arguably the worst starter in the league in Week 1 and nothing changed in Week 2. With Michael Penix expected to make his 2026 debut next week, Rush may have just finished his final career start. Jack Strand will close this game out.

It was reported earlier that Rush was expected to draw the start, but with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) officially ruled out, it will be Rush getting the ball against the Panthers. Rush struggled in last week’s game against the Steelers, throwing for 143 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions on 22 attempts. Drake London shouldn’t be viewed as anything more than a WR2 in fantasy this week with Rush under center, while Kyle Pitts profiles as a boom-or-bust TE1 after putting up zero fantasy points in Week 1. Jack Strand will serve as Rush’s backup.

Rush is taking all of the first-team reps with the Falcons in Friday’s practice, and according to Rapoport, sources familiar with the situation expect Rush to get the nod on Sunday. With Rush under center, all Falcons pass-catchers receive a substantial downgrade after he struggled to move the ball in Week 1 against the Steelers. Fantasy managers hoping Drake London and Kyle Pitts can be of some value against a Panthers defense that allowed 269 yards and two passing TDs to the Bears last week should approach both players with caution. London is best trusted as more of a WR2, while Pitts, who saw one target on 21 routes last week, shouldn’t be viewed as anything more than a boom-or-bust TE2 in what figures to be a run-heavy game for the Falcons.

Rush told reporters that he and QB Michael Penix (knee) split first-team reps, though the coaching staff already said Penix is not yet ready to take the field on game day. Rush or rookie QB Jack Strand will likely start, with QB Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) ailing.

Stefanski on Wednesday wouldn’t rule out any of his four quarterbacks of the apocalypse, including rookie QB Jack Strand, who flashed in preseason action against second and third-team defenses. Rush as abysmal in the Falcons’ Week 1 loss to the Steelers. He was 10.5 percent below his expected pass rate, throwing for 143 yards, one touchdown, and two picks. There’s almost no way Strand would be a downgrade for Week 2 if he gets the nod. Michael Penix (knee) will continued to be sidelined and Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) is questionable at best. Strand should be picked up in superflex leagues.

But, Rapoport added, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll play this week. “Generally, for a throwing position, it’s not usually one week,” Rapoport added. Cooper Rush could be awaiting the Panthers in Week 2, and based on how Rush played in Week 1, that means the Panthers defense could go from allowing 59 points to being a streamable defense in Week 2.

Rush, the team’s third quarterback that is set to start in relief of both Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr, reportedly experienced discomfort in his back on Saturday, with Schefter adding that he is still expected to start against the Steelers. We don’t know what kind of voodoo is working against the Falcons at present, but the team enters Week 1 with all kinds of uncertainty under center. Penix is presumed to be the starter once healthy, with no telling when that could be as he works his way back from a torn ACL.

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.