ATL Cooper Rush
NFL player. Position: QB (Quarterback). Team: ATL (Atlanta Falcons).
Quick Facts
- Position: Quarterback (QB)
- Team: ATL (Atlanta Falcons)
- Role: Backup QB, signed for 2026 season
2026 Outlook
Veteran journeyman quarterback signed by the Falcons in July 2026 as insurance during Michael Penix Jr.'s ACL recovery. Rush serves as third-string backup behind Tua Tagovailoa in Atlanta's QB competition. Limited starting opportunity expected given Tua's status as the Week 1 starter.
Week 1 elevation (Sept 11-13): With starting QB Tua Tagovailoa ruled out due to an oblique injury suffered in practice on September 10, Rush was named the starter for the Falcons' Week 1 matchup against Pittsburgh. The backup role became a starting opportunity with just hours before kickoff, making his performance against the Steelers a critical audition for his role going forward. ESPN's analysis highlights Rush's historical passing patterns: he targets his WR1 heavily (targeted CeeDee Lamb 125 times in 13 starts with Dallas) and relies significantly on outside receivers (41% of passes to outside WRs over four-year track record) and his tight end as a security blanket. Against Pittsburgh's strong defense, this historical targeting distribution should benefit Falcons star receivers Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts, positioning them for solid fantasy production despite the QB downgrade. (per Former Falcons QB volunteers to step in after Cooper Rush injury - Falcons Wire and Fantasy buzz: Falcons' fantasy stars will be just fine without Tagovailoa)
In Week 1 action against Pittsburgh, Rush struggled with limited accuracy: 12-for-22 for 143 passing yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs including a pick-six. Back spasms that plagued him Saturday before the game appeared not to severely impact his play, though the team remained uncertain about his availability for Week 2 (per Kevin Stefanski comments on Falcons' injuries ahead of Week 2 - Falcons Wire).
Role / Depth Chart
Third-string / backup quarterback. Named emergency starter for Week 1 after Tua Tagovailoa's oblique injury.
Injury Status
Dealing with back spasms as of September 12, two days before the Falcons' Week 1 matchup. Status for Sunday's game remains uncertain.
Week 2 status: With Tua dealing with a back injury and Penix showing recovery progression, Rush is likely to remain in third-string role if either starter becomes available (per Michael Penix Jr. injury update as Falcons QB practices ahead of Week 2).
Recent News
- 2026-09-20 — Why Cooper Rush, Not Michael Penix Jr., is Playing QB for Falcons vs. Panthers (Why Cooper Rush, Not Michael Penix Jr., is Playing QB for Falcons vs. Panthers)
- 2026-09-11 — Fantasy Football Fallout From Tua Tagovailoa Injury: Cooper Rush's Impact on Drake... (Fantasy Football Fallout From Tua Tagovailoa Injury: Cooper Rush's Impact on Drake...)
- 2026-09-18 — NFL injury tracker Week 2: Latest news, fantasy implications as Nico Collins... (NFL injury tracker Week 2: Latest news, fantasy implications as Nico Collins...)
- 2026-09-13 — Week 1 NFL scores, live updates: Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. out, Cooper Rush starts... (Week 1 NFL scores, live updates: Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. out, Cooper Rush starts...)
- 2026-09-13 — Kevin Stefanski told Cooper Rush: Get the ball out quickly to our playmakers (Kevin Stefanski told Cooper Rush: Get the ball out quickly to our playmakers)
- 2026-09-12 — Former Falcons QB volunteers to step in after Cooper Rush injury (Former Falcons QB volunteers to step in after Cooper Rush injury - Falcons Wire)
- 2026-09-12 — Steelers make moves ahead of Sunday's game (Steelers make moves ahead of Sunday's game)
Open Questions
- Will Cooper Rush be healthy enough to start Week 1 against Pittsburgh with back spasms?
- How will the offense perform with an unexpected change at QB?