Why Falcons likely won't bench Cooper Rush for beloved UDFA after rough Week 1 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Falcons have a very brutal quarterback situation during the 2026 NFL season. Michael Penix Jr. is supposed to be the starter, but he's coming off an injury and isn't 100% just yet.
Tua Tagovailoa was meant to be the starter, but he sustained an oblique injury during practice, leaving Cooper Rush to start. He, too, was dealing with an injury, but the Falcons stuck with him as the starter. That was a mistake, as he really struggled.
It wouldn't be surprising for fans and media to call for the Falcons to start beloved undrafted free agent quarterback Jack Strand in place of Rush. But, Marc Raimondi of ESPN shared why the Falcons won't make the switch, as they don't believe he's ready yet.
"It does not seem like the team thinks undrafted rookie Jack Strand, who played great in the preseason, is ready just yet," Raimondi writes.
#falcons #strand
The Atlanta Falcons have a very brutal quarterback situation during the 2026 NFL season. Michael Penix Jr. is supposed to be the starter, but he's coming off an injury and isn't 100% just yet.
Tua Tagovailoa was meant to be the starter, but he sustained an oblique injury during practice, leaving Cooper Rush to start. He, too, was dealing with an injury, but the Falcons stuck with him as the starter. That was a mistake, as he really struggled.
It wouldn't be surprising for fans and media to call for the Falcons to start beloved undrafted free agent quarterback Jack Strand in place of Rush. But, Marc Raimondi of ESPN shared why the Falcons won't make the switch, as they don't believe he's ready yet.
"It does not seem like the team thinks undrafted rookie Jack Strand, who played great in the preseason, is ready just yet," Raimondi writes.
#falcons #strand
7 hours ago
