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Michael Penix Jr. officially out, Tua Tagovailoa doubtful for Week 2
Cooper Rush is officially set to start Sunday's game against the Panthers, with Jack Strand as his backup.
9 more updatesfrom 7 sources
- 1d Daniel Flick (X) Asked Kevin Stefanski if he feels like Jack Strand, given no practice snaps between preseason & last Thursday, then only running scout team this week, is ready if needed: “I mean, all of our players who are on the active roster, we trust them. They're ready to go, yes.”
- 1d Falcons Team Site Cooper Rush named starting QB for Falcons vs. Panthers
- 1d Pro Football Talk Michael Penix Jr. officially out, Tua Tagovailoa doubtful for Week 2
- 1d Adam Schefter (mirror, Bluesky) Falcons QB Cooper Rush will start Sunday vs. Carolina, Jack Strand will serve as Atlanta’s backup QB.+3
- 1d Josh Kendall (X) UDFA rookie Jack Strand will again be Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 2
- 1d NFL Daily News (Bluesky) Stefanski: Cooper Rush (back) will start Week 2. Jack Strand will serve as QB2. · Quoting NFL Daily News: Rap: Falcons QB Cooper Rush is now taking first-team reps and is expected to get the start in Week 2, with Michael Penix Jr. not yet ready to return.
- 1d Daniel Flick (X) While Cooper Rush warms up with the starting receivers (and Jack Strand watches), Michael Penix Jr. is throwing to the practice squad players on the far side of the field.
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The Falcons' QB4 is at least on the table as they sort through their starter for Week 2... · Quoting Marc Raimondi: Stefanski: Jack Strand is not being ruled out for this game. #Falcons
10 more updatesfrom 5 sources
- 3d Daniel Flick (X) Latest · Quoting Daniel Flick: For the beginning of the routes on air portion, Cooper Rush threw to the Falcons’ starters w/ Michael Penix Jr. watching. Then, Penix did the same, tossing to Pitts, London, Dotson & Zaccheaus. Jack Strand throwing to the practice squad guys behind them. Here’s Penix to Pitts.
- 3d Zach Klein (X) RT @AlisonWSB: All three quarters back now going through warm ups Michael Penix Jr. Cooper Rush Jack strand. Tua is not out here practici…
- 3d Daniel Flick (X) I view this as an encouraging step forward for Penix. Late last week, Penix threw to the reserves while Strand joined Rush in routes on air. Perhaps that was just for game-prep purposes, but this is nonetheless warmup work with starters, which is better than last week. · Quoting Daniel Flick: For the beginning of the routes on air portion, Cooper Rush threw to the Falcons’ starters w/ Michael Penix Jr. watching. Then, Penix did the same, tossing to Pitts, London, Dotson & Zaccheaus. Jack Strand throwing to the practice squad guys behind them. Here’s Penix to Pitts.
- 3d The Falcoholic (Bluesky) Jack Strand should try this · Quoting Razzball: Tommy Pham is batting cleanup today, because he threatened to beat the shit out of the GM last night
- 3d Daniel Flick (X) For the beginning of the routes on air portion, Cooper Rush threw to the Falcons’ starters w/ Michael Penix Jr. watching. Then, Penix did the same, tossing to Pitts, London, Dotson & Zaccheaus. Jack Strand throwing to the practice squad guys behind them. Here’s Penix to Pitts.
- 3d Daniel Flick (X) While Cooper Rush & Jack Strand stretch with the rest of the team, Michael Penix Jr. is throwing off to the side.
- 3d Yahoo Fantasy Football Falcons say they still haven't decided on Week 2 QB, won't rule out undrafted rookie Jack Strand+1
- 3d Field Yates (X) The Falcons' QB4 is at least on the table as they sort through their starter for Week 2... · Quoting Marc Raimondi: Stefanski: Jack Strand is not being ruled out for this game. #Falcons
- 3d Daniel Flick (X) The Falcons aren't ruling out anybody -- Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., Cooper Rush, Jack Strand -- at this point to start at QB.
- 3d Marc Raimondi (X) Stefanski: Jack Strand is not being ruled out for this game. #Falcons
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Tua Tagovailoa is listed as the #Falcons starter on the team’s Week 2 depth chart. Doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Kevin Stefanski has yet to say who will start against the Panthers on Sunday.
Cooper Rush was listed as the backup with Jack Strand as QB3 and Michael Penix Jr. as a reserve. This was how the depth chart looked last week as well.
1 more updatefrom 1 source
- 4d NFL News Poster (Bluesky) [Raimondi] Cooper Rush was listed as the backup with Jack Strand as QB3 and Michael Penix Jr. as a reserve. This was how the depth chart looked last week as well. (2/2) · Quoting NFL News Poster: [Raimondi] Tua Tagovailoa is listed as the Falcons starter on the team’s Week 2 depth chart. Doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Kevin Stefanski has yet to say who will start against the Panthers on Sunday. (1/2)
- 4d Marc Raimondi (X) Tua Tagovailoa is listed as the #Falcons starter on the team’s Week 2 depth chart. Doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Kevin Stefanski has yet to say who will start against the Panthers on Sunday. Cooper Rush was listed as the backup with Jack Strand as QB3 and Michael Penix Jr. as a reserve. This was how the depth chart looked last week as well.
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Cooper Rush was a 3rd string QB for a reason.. don’t get why people expected anything else. Make a change and go with Jack Strand.. sure. But why are you surprised he’s struggling ?
Dude was signed day before camp started and had zero reps with 1st until Friday
2 more updatesfrom 2 sources
- 6d Daniel Flick (X) Kevin Stefanski said Falcons didn't consider playing Jack Strand today. "Pleased with Jack's development," he said, but tough spot for a rookie.
- 6d Zach Klein (X) Cooper Rush was a 3rd string QB for a reason.. don’t get why people expected anything else. Make a change and go with Jack Strand.. sure. But why are you surprised he’s struggling ? Dude was signed day before camp started and had zero reps with 1st until Friday
- 6d The Falcoholic (Bluesky) I genuinely do not think Jack Strand could be worse
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Cooper Rush will be Atlanta’s starting quarterback today, undrafted free agent Jack Strand will be the backup, and with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. both inactive, wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus will be the Falcons’ emergency quarterback vs. the Steelers.
But Zaccheus’ role doesn’t stop just there. With the Falcons also having only two running backs active today, Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson, Zaccheus also will be the team’s emergency third-string running back.
1 more updatefrom 1 source
- 6d Marc Raimondi (X) WR Olamide Zachheaus will be emergency QB3 today #Falcons · Quoting Adam Schefter: Cooper Rush will be Atlanta’s starting quarterback today, undrafted free agent Jack Strand will be the backup, and with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. both inactive, wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus will be the Falcons’ emergency quarterback vs. the Steelers. But Zaccheus’ role doesn’t stop just there. With the Falcons also having only two running backs active today, Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson, Zaccheus also will be the team’s emergency third-string running back.
- 6d Marc Raimondi (X) Cooper Rush will be Atlanta’s starting quarterback today, undrafted free agent Jack Strand will be the backup, and with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. both inactive, wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus will be the Falcons’ emergency quarterback vs. the Steelers. But Zaccheus’ role doesn’t stop just there. With the Falcons also having only two running backs active today, Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson, Zaccheus also will be the team’s emergency third-string running back.
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#Falcons QB Cooper Rush, who was slated to start after a mid-week oblique injury to Tua Tagovailoa, experienced back spasms on Saturday, but is still expected to start.
Undrafted rookie Jack Strand is the only fully healthy Atlanta QB entering Week 1.
3 more updatesfrom 2 sources
- Sep 12 Daniel Flick (X) Jack Strand, yesterday, on being one play away from getting snaps: “Just got to be ready to go in. Whatever happens, got to know the game plan, got to be able to execute it. (I have) belief in myself, belief in the guys around me if that moment comes.”
- Sep 12 Nick Farabaugh (X) Pretty wild what is going on right now in the Falcons QB room. His backup is Jack Strand, who was a UDFA signing out of D-2 Minnesota State-Moorhead · Quoting Adam Schefter: Falcons starting QB Cooper Rush, who was replacing the injured QB Tua Tagovailoa, experienced back spasms Saturday but the team said he still will start Sunday at Pittsburgh.
- Sep 12 Alan Saunders (X) #Falcons QB Cooper Rush, who was slated to start after a mid-week oblique injury to Tua Tagovailoa, experienced back spasms on Saturday, but is still expected to start. Undrafted rookie Jack Strand is the only fully healthy Atlanta QB entering Week 1.
- Sep 12 Daniel Flick (X) Falcons QB Cooper Rush experienced back spasms earlier today but will still start Sunday, the team announced. Something to monitor tomorrow. Jack Strand is QB2.
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For those curious about Michael Penix Jr., he threw to practice squad players during media viewing today while Cooper Rush + Jack Strand threw to the starters.
6 more updatesfrom 3 sources
- Sep 11 Marc Raimondi (X) In lighter news: The #Falcons had rookies do individual talent shows this summer during camp. QB Jack Strand told us today he sang 679 by Fetty Wap. "They liked it. They were singing along and everything. At the start, it's always a little awkward, but then you got to just get guys into it. You got to keep going. If you stop or you slow down, get quiet or anything, then it's just going to be awkward for everybody."
- Sep 11 Daniel Flick (X) Falcons will start Cooper Rush on Sunday, and they'll have Jack Strand as QB2 with Tua Tagovailoa out. Kevin Stefanski said he's "disappointed for (Tua)."+1
- Sep 11 NFL News Poster (Bluesky) [McElhaney] Kevin Stefanski confirms Cooper Rush is the starter this weekend. Jack Strand will be his backup.
- Sep 11 Daniel Flick (X) For those curious about Michael Penix Jr., he threw to practice squad players during media viewing today while Cooper Rush + Jack Strand threw to the starters.
- Sep 11 Marc Raimondi (X) Cooper Rush and Jack Strand were the QBs present for the main drill during the media viewing period. Rush was throwing primarily. Michael Penix Jr. was across the field with the reserves. #Falcons+1
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If Tua can't play, the Steelers would face Cooper Rush. Rookie UDFA QB Jack Strand would then seemingly be the backup, too, with Michael Penix Jr. slated to be inactive as he works his way back from a knee injury. · Quoting Underdog NFL: Cooper Rush said he took all the reps with the 1st-team offense on Thursday.
1 more updatefrom 1 source
- Sep 10 Nick Farabaugh (X) If Tua can't play, the Steelers would face Cooper Rush. Rookie UDFA QB Jack Strand would then seemingly be the backup, too, with Michael Penix Jr. slated to be inactive as he works his way back from a knee injury. · Quoting Underdog NFL: Cooper Rush said he took all the reps with the 1st-team offense on Thursday.
- Sep 10 The Falcoholic (Bluesky) The universe will accept nothing less than Jack Strand, QB1. Rush is going to get his shoelaces stuck in an escalator on Saturday morning
Game Plays 1 touchdowns, sacks, drives — live action, not lineup news
The River 8
- Here’s a couple Michael Penix Jr. throws during routes on air — one to Drake London, the other to Olamide Zaccheaus. Cooper Rush led the unit through warmups but Penix threw a few to the first-team offense, too. Jack Strand worked with the reserves.
- Jack Strand serving a plate. https://t.co/jElEjQp1jr · Quoting Daniel Flick: Falcons rookies are making lunch at the Atlanta Mission: The Shepherd’s Inn, which provides support for men experiencing homelessness. Here’s Kendal Daniels (sour cream) & Zachariah Branch (salsa) doing their part.
- Tua Tagovailoa said he has a great relationship with Michael Penix Jr., Cooper Rush & Jack Strand. Kevin Stefanski told the QBs on Monday that Tua would start in Pittsburgh. "It's a blessing. It's not something you take for granted."
- Falcons GM Ian Cunningham explains why team kept 4 QBs on 53-man roster
- There are tiers within undrafted rookies -- out of these 45 that made initial 53-man rosters, 15 of them got $200,000+ in guaranteed money and 27 in all got $100k+, almost like an eighth round with more guaranteed money than a seventh. What's even more impressive are those who got little or no guaranteed money and still made 53s: Ravens QB Joe Fagnano: $0 Chiefs T Kahlil Benson: $0 Patriots LB Khalil Jacobs: $0 Dolphins FB D.J. Herman: $0 Bucs LB Caden Fordham: $2,000 Commanders K Drew Stevens: $2,500 Chargers CB Rodney Shelley: $5,000 Chargers C Jacob Spomer: $10,000 Giants LS Ben Mann: $10,000 (@spotrac for contract figures) · Quoting Ryan Paganetti: All 45 UDFAs from the 2026 class who made an NFL initial 53-man roster: ARI: Wydett Williams Jr., S, Ole Miss ATL: Malcolm DeWalt IV, CB, Akron ATL: Jack Strand, QB, Minnesota State Moorhead BAL: Ethan Burke, OLB, Texas BAL: Joe Fagnano, QB, UConn CAR: Aaron Hall, DT, Duke CAR: Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech CAR: Albert Reese IV, OT,…
- All 45 UDFAs from the 2026 class who made an NFL initial 53-man roster: ARI: Wydett Williams Jr., S, Ole Miss ATL: Malcolm DeWalt IV, CB, Akron ATL: Jack Strand, QB, Minnesota State Moorhead BAL: Ethan Burke, OLB, Texas BAL: Joe Fagnano, QB, UConn CAR: Aaron Hall, DT, Duke CAR: Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech CAR: Albert Reese IV, OT, Mississippi State CHI: Beau Gardner, LS, Georgia CHI: Hayden Large, TE, Iowa CHI: Jayden Loving, DT, Wake Forest CHI: Skyler Thomas, S, Oregon State CLE: Michael Coats Jr., CB, West Virginia DAL: Camden Brown, WR, Georgia Southern DET: Eric O’Neill, EDGE, Rutgers GB: J. Michael Sturdivant, WR, Florida HOU: Sam Hagen, OT, South Dakota State HOU: Sabastian Harsh, DE, NC State HOU: Collin Wright, CB, Stanford IND: Tahj Chambers, LB, Ole Miss JAX: Bryan Thomas Jr., DE, South Carolina KC: Kahlil Benson, OT, Indiana KC: Xavier Nwankpa, S, Iowa KC: Diego Pounds, OT, Ole Miss LAC: Rodney Shelley, CB, Georgia Tech LAC: Jacob Spomer, C, Fresno State LAR: Wesley…
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Source: Jack Strand has made the Falcons’ initial 53-man roster out of camp.
5 more updatesfrom 3 sources
- Aug 30 Josh Kendall (X) Only two running backs on the initial 53. No Tyler Goodson might be the biggest surprise of all. Just Bijan and Brian Robinson. · Quoting Josh Kendall: It is four quarterbacks for the Falcons, who have put Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., Cooper Rush and Jack Strand on the 53-man roster.
- Aug 30 Josh Kendall (X) It is four quarterbacks for the Falcons, who have put Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., Cooper Rush and Jack Strand on the 53-man roster.+1
- Aug 30 The Falcoholic (Bluesky) Also per @danielflick.bsky.social, UDFA cornerback Malcolm DeWalt IV is on the roster · Quoting The Falcoholic: Per @danielflick.bsky.social, Jack Strand made the initial Falcons 53 man roster
- Aug 30 The Falcoholic (Bluesky) Per @danielflick.bsky.social, Jack Strand made the initial Falcons 53 man roster+1
- Falcons Camp Report: Kevin Stefanski details plan for starters in first preseason game