- May 21, 2026
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The Falcons kept four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, but they still needed to get creative with their plans at the position for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Cooper Rush is set to start after Tua Tagovailoa was scratched due to an oblique injury he suffered in practice this week. Michael Penix is also inactive as he works back from last year's torn ACL, which leaves undrafted rookie Jack Strand as Rush's backup.
The prospect of turning to Strand is a real one after Rush suffered back spasms on Saturday and all the upheaval also has the Falcons with a plan in place for a third emergency option. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that will be wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus.
Zaccheaus has never thrown a pass in the NFL, but he does have nine rushing attempts. That could come in handy because Schefter adds that he'll also be third on the depth chart at running back behind Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson.
If Zaccheaus is seeing time at either of those positions, it probably won't be a good sign for the Falcons' chances of opening the season with a win.
Cooper Rush is set to start after Tua Tagovailoa was scratched due to an oblique injury he suffered in practice this week. Michael Penix is also inactive as he works back from last year's torn ACL, which leaves undrafted rookie Jack Strand as Rush's backup.
The prospect of turning to Strand is a real one after Rush suffered back spasms on Saturday and all the upheaval also has the Falcons with a plan in place for a third emergency option. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that will be wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus.
Zaccheaus has never thrown a pass in the NFL, but he does have nine rushing attempts. That could come in handy because Schefter adds that he'll also be third on the depth chart at running back behind Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson.
If Zaccheaus is seeing time at either of those positions, it probably won't be a good sign for the Falcons' chances of opening the season with a win.