Things just keep getting weirder in the Atlanta Falcons' quarterback room ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. After ruling out Michael Penix Jr. and naming Tua Tagovailoa the Week 1 starter on Monday, the team ruled Tagovailoa out with an oblique injury on Friday.
Cooper Rush was then named the starter, but apparently the veteran QB is dealing with back spasms. The Falcons revealed this tidbit in their Week 1 practice squad elevations piece on Saturday, prompting a firestorm of confusion from an already confused fan base.
The fact that the team suddenly opened up a roster spot by placing offensive lineman Cameron Williams on the injured reserve list only added to the speculation. After all, head coach Kevin Stefanski
did say he would reveal the team's emergency third QB on Sunday.
Rush is still expected to start, but the fact that his back injury was reported this close to kickoff is certainly alarming. If he can't go tomorrow, undrafted rookie quarterback Jack Strand will make his NFL debut for Atlanta.
Although at this rate, Homer Simpson might be stepping in for the Falcons by the time 1 p.m. ET rolls around on Sunday.
While fans would love to see Matt Ryan come down from the front office and fill in, another former Falcons quarterback jokingly offered his services on Twitter after Rush's back injury was reported.
Kurt Benkert, an undrafted free agent out of Virginia, spent three seasons on Atlanta's practice squad (2018-2020).
"F--- it, I've got some meatball subs left in the tank," Benkert wrote above a picture of himself in a Falcons uniform.
Jack Strand fans also sounded off on social media as it is becoming more and more likely that we could see the MSU-Moorhead legend on Sunday. Here's how NFL fans reacted to the latest chapter of the Falcons quarterback saga.
NFL world reacts to Cooper Rush's back spasms
EDITOR'S NOTE: Tweets contain vulgarity.
Fuck it, I got some meatball subs left in the tank https://t.co/ePtgUlmcJx pic.twitter.com/MgAo4LwZXH
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) September 12, 2026
Jack Strand is in that locker room taking chairs to his fellow QBs spines one by one
— Tre’Shon (@tre3shon) September 12, 2026
At this point, Matt Ryan might be the Falcons President of Football Operations AND QB2 tomorrow https://t.co/2UMy60FWHw
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 12, 2026
The #Falcons’ QB room has been through it this summer… https://t.co/cOMNCOmIHA
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 12, 2026
https://t.co/1WlPWqiWU8 pic.twitter.com/K70INbJtZv
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) September 12, 2026
You have got to be kidding me https://t.co/aKkxrhd9fJ
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) September 12, 2026
Jack Strand is inevitable. https://t.co/rIdkiNjRRy
— Iain MacMillan (@IainMacBets) September 12, 2026
Strand of Brothers, it’s almost our time. https://t.co/daQiEcUnGD
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) September 12, 2026
https://t.co/1lwP580FaB pic.twitter.com/QiOrVyB27o
— JazzyJeffRealTalk (@JazzyJeffRealT1) September 11, 2026
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Former Falcons QB volunteers to step in after Cooper Rush injury
