Falcons’ QB Crisis Begins | Atlanta Falcons News

The Falcons’ 2026 opener ended in a brutal 20-13 loss to the Steelers, thanks largely to third-string QB Cooper Rush’s shaky debut. Rush completed just 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards, two interceptions, and one TD — a dismal 51.9 passer rating. The offense sputtered without their usual starters, but running back Bijan Robinson shined with 10 targets and nearly 100 more yards than the rest of the team combined. The Steelers’ defense stifled Atlanta, including two key interceptions — one by T.J. Watt in the fourth quarter. With another tough matchup looming against Carolina, some are calling for undrafted rookie Jack Strand to get a shot — if the Falcons can’t find a better solution fast, they’re in deep trouble. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/cooper-rush-flops-debut-falcons-100632330.html More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b50d3fb620e666b5 Report issues to [email protected].