The Atlanta Falcons are preparing to hand Cooper Rush another start at quarterback Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, with Michael Penix Jr. not yet cleared to make his 2026 season debut as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury.
Key takeaways
- Rush took the first-team quarterback work in Friday’s practice and is expected to start in Week 2.
- Penix was a full participant Wednesday and Thursday but remains short of being ready for game action.
- The Falcons have managed Penix carefully after the third ACL tear of his football career.
- Rush threw for 143 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Atlanta’s opening loss to Pittsburgh.
- Bijan Robinson could again be central to the offensive plan against a Carolina defense that allowed two Chicago backs to top 100 rushing yards in Week 1.
Falcons stay cautious with Penix
Penix has made tangible progress during the week, participating fully in consecutive practices before the Falcons’ trip to face Carolina. Still, Atlanta is not expected to put its former first-round pick back under center yet.
The quarterback is working his way back from the ACL tear suffered last season, the latest in a series of significant knee injuries. His two previous ACL tears came during his college career, and the Falcons have opted for a measured approach rather than rushing him into the lineup.
Tua Tagovailoa had appeared positioned to open the year as Atlanta’s starter, but an oblique injury suffered in practice before Week 1 kept him out. With Tagovailoa still unavailable and after an uneven preseason, his path to a meaningful opportunity with the Falcons has become less clear.
Rush seeks rebound against Carolina
Rush started the opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers despite a back problem that emerged late in the previous week. The 32-year-old completed 12 of 22 passes, throwing a touchdown and two interceptions in a difficult performance that ended with a pick-six that sealed the result.
Atlanta’s passing game rarely generated downfield pressure. Rush attempted only six throws beyond nine air yards and completed two of them. Half of his completions came behind the line of scrimmage, and he failed to complete a pass when pressured.
The Falcons will hope the opener reflected Rush’s limited preparation time and the effects of his back issue rather than a continuing concern at quarterback. Another setback would leave Atlanta at 0-2 to begin the season.
That makes Robinson an especially important piece of the Week 2 plan. Carolina’s run defense was exposed in its opener, allowing more than 100 rushing yards to each of two Chicago running backs, giving Atlanta a clear reason to lean on its star ball carrier Sunday.
