Falcons set Cooper Rush as No. 2 quarterback

Tua Tagovailoa gets the Week 1 start

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 71 min read

Cooper Rush will be the backup, while Michael Penix Jr will be inactive as he continues to recover. Via @RapSheet on X

What happened: Atlanta named Tua Tagovailoa its starter for the opener. A continuing recovery will leave one of the club's rostered quarterbacks inactive.

Why it matters: Rush gives Atlanta a veteran option behind Tagovailoa. The inactive designation reduces the game-day quarterback group after the club carried four through roster cuts.

By the numbers: Atlanta kept four quarterbacks on its initial 53-man roster; three are set to be available for Week 1.

What to watch: Atlanta's inactive list will confirm the available quarterback group for the opener. Recovery updates will determine whether that arrangement changes after Week 1.

Sources

@RapSheet 2026-09-07T14:43:57.186673+00:00

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NFLInjuryAtlanta FalconsCooper RushTua Tagovailoa

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