Who is the Falcons' backup quarterback behind Michael Penix Jr.?
Atlanta is finally getting healthy at QB
The Atlanta Falcons have been dealing with quarterback uncertainty at the start of the 2026 season. Initially, Tua Tagovailoa was set to begin the season as the starter, with Michael Penix Jr. nursing a torn ACL. However, an oblique injury just before Week 1 led to Cooper Rush taking over as the primary quarterback. Unfortunately, Rush's performance was lackluster, contributing to the team's struggles.
Midway through Week 2, undrafted free agent Jack Strand was brought in to replace Rush. Strand's initial performance was also disappointing, throwing a pick-six on his very first NFL pass attempt. As the situation seems to be improving, Penix Jr. will start against the Green Bay Packers during Thursday Night Football, providing some optimism for an offensive unit that has yet to score in the red zone during the first two games.
Tua Tagovailoa has also returned to the team, serving as Penix Jr.'s backup for tonight's game. The current quarterback situation at the Falcons mirrors the lineup that head coach Kevin Stefanski had envisioned when he first took over.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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