The team played musical QBs in the first few games of the season. Tua Tagovailoa was set to be Atlanta’s QB1 to start the season, but injuries sidelined him and opened the door for Cooper Rush to get a few starts. Rush failed gloriously, giving way to fourth-stringer Jack Strand, who didn’t fare any better.
Michael Penix Jr. finally got healthy and stabilized the Falcons QB situation. However, the Falcons aren’t done tinkering with their QB room, and they added a veteran backup to the mix on Monday morning. In a corresponding move, the Falcons, who are 1.5 games behind the Carolina Panthers for the NFC South lead, released Rush, who went 0-2 as Atlanta’s starter, throwing for 229 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions with a gaudy 42.5 passer rating.
Monday’s news came as a bit of a surprise after it was revealed that Dalton, who was cut earlier this month by the Philadelphia Eagles, was offered a chance to return to the team after Jalen Hurts was placed on injured reserve with a blood clot issue. However, Dalton, a three-time Pro Bowler who’s thrown for 39,792 yards, 254 touchdowns, and 152 interceptions over his 13-year NFL career, spurned his former employer for the chance for a fresh start in Atlanta. Dalton’s decision is looming even larger now after Hurts was ruled out for the rest of the season after doctors discovered blood clots in his lungs.
The Eagles will roll with backup Tanner McKee for the rest of the season with rookie fifth-rounder Cole Payton and Dallas Cowboys castoff Joe Milton serving as the primary backups behind him.
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