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Falcons Secure Veteran Backup, Sign QB Cooper Rush
Atlanta Falcons Sign Veteran Quarterback Cooper Rush Before Training Camp
What Happened?
The Atlanta Falcons made a quick move on Wednesday morning, just before their first practice of AT&T Training Camp. They signed Cooper Rush, a veteran quarterback who has been in the NFL for eight years.
Think of it like this: the team needed an extra player for the most important position on the field, and they found someone with lots of experience right before practice started.
Who Is Cooper Rush?
Cooper Rush is a 32-year-old quarterback who knows the NFL well. Here are the key facts about his career:
- 8 seasons in the NFL
- 42 games played (that’s a lot of experience!)
- Most of his career was with the Dallas Cowboys
- Last season (2025): Played for the Baltimore Ravens — 4 games, 2 starts
- 2024 season with Cowboys: Started 8 games, won 4 and lost 4
- Threw for 1,844 yards
- 12 touchdowns vs 5 interceptions
- Career totals:
- Completes 61.1% of his passes
- 3,766 yards passing
- 20 touchdowns vs 14 interceptions
Important Point: An interception is when the quarterback throws the ball but the other team catches it. A touchdown is when his team scores 6 points. Rush has thrown more touchdowns than interceptions in his career — that’s a good sign!
Why Did the Falcons Sign Him?
The Falcons didn’t sign Rush out of nowhere. It was a reaction to several things happening at once on Wednesday morning:
- They released another quarterback — Trevor Siemian was let go
- Starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will miss the start of camp with a minor injury (coach says he’ll be back "sooner than later")
- Backup Michael Penix Jr. hasn’t been cleared by doctors for full practice yet
- That left only ONE quarterback — undrafted rookie Jack Strand — available for full 11-on-11 team drills
Important Point: 11-on-11 drills means the whole offense practices against the whole defense — just like a real game. You need at least two quarterbacks to run these properly (one for each team).
The Quarterback Situation at Camp
Here’s how the Falcons’ quarterback room looks now:
| Quarterback | Status |
|---|---|
| Tua Tagovailoa | Injured, missing start of camp |
| Michael Penix Jr. | Not yet cleared for full practice |
| Cooper Rush | NEWLY SIGNED — ready to practice |
| Jack Strand | Undrafted rookie, was the only one available |
Before Rush signed: Only Jack Strand could do full team drills.
After Rush signed: The Falcons have four quarterbacks again — a much safer number for practice.
What This Means for the Team
For Practice
- Coaches can now run proper 11-on-11 drills with two quarterbacks
- Rush can help mentor the younger players
- No need to rush injured players back before they’re ready
For the Season
- Rush provides insurance — a reliable backup if injuries happen
- He knows how to run an NFL offense (8 years of experience!)
- Competition makes everyone better
Important Point: Insurance in football means having a good backup plan. If your starter gets hurt, you want someone who can step in and keep the team competitive. Rush has proven he can do that.
Summary
The Atlanta Falcons signed veteran quarterback Cooper Rush on Wednesday morning, right before their first training camp practice. The move came after a chain of events left them with only one healthy quarterback (rookie Jack Strand) for full team drills.
Rush brings eight years of NFL experience, including a solid 2024 season where he started 8 games for the Cowboys and threw 12 touchdowns against only 5 interceptions. With Rush now on the roster, the Falcons have four quarterbacks again — giving them the depth they need to run proper practices while waiting for Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. to get healthy.
FAQ
Q: Why did the Falcons need to sign someone so quickly?
A: They released Trevor Siemian the same morning, and their other two quarterbacks (Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr.) were injured/not cleared. That left only rookie Jack Strand for full team practices.
Q: Is Cooper Rush going to be the starting quarterback?
A: Probably not. He was signed as an experienced backup and practice quarterback while the starters recover. But he could start if needed — he’s done it before.
Q: What does "undrafted rookie" mean for Jack Strand?
A: It means no team selected him in the NFL Draft. He signed as a free agent afterward. It’s a harder path to make the team, but many great players started this way!
Q: How good is Cooper Rush compared to other backups?
A: He’s considered a high-quality backup. His career stats (61.1% completion, more touchdowns than interceptions) and 8 games starting experience in 2024 show he can win games when called upon.
Q: When will Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. be back?
A: The coach said Tagovailoa will return "sooner than later" for his minor injury. Penix Jr. is still working toward full medical clearance — no exact date given yet.
