Cooper Rush will start at quarterback in the Atlanta Falcons’ season opener Sunday in Pittsburgh after Tua Tagovailo was sidelined with a groin injury.
Rush was only signed by Atlanta on July 29, the opening day of training camp, after an injury that left the Falcons without any of their top three quarterbacks, and early this week Rush raised the injury. Atlanta had planned to start Tagovailoa, who was signed to a one-year deal in March, but Tagovailoa He hurt himself early in practice on Thursday When participating in throwing.
Rush had just one series against the Falcons’ starters during training camp, but he took all of Atlanta’s first-team reps Thursday and Friday.
“In an ideal world, would you want to get every rep? Cooper was the backup,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday. He was a beginner. He knows how to prepare.”
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Rush began his NFL career with the Cowboys in 2017, compiling a 9-5 record in 14 starts and spent seven seasons as a backup in Dallas. He played for the Ravens last season, making two starts and losing both. He clearly accepts this opportunity.
“Every throw you throw to Drake (London) is important, every throw you throw to Kyle (Pitts),” Rush said. “The game preparation doesn’t change the mental state. I think that’s my advantage. Whether I start or not, I’ve always done the same thing. If it’s a place where things change when you start, you have to talk to those (starting) wide receivers, the O-line, ‘How’s the cadence?’ Such items.”
The 6-foot-3, 224-pound Central Michigan alumnus played in all three of the Falcons’ preseason games, finishing a combined 30-for-48 for 254 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He threw for 3,766 regular season yards with 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
He was working out at a gym in his hometown of Dallas when the Falcons called in July, he said.
“Out of the blue they called the first day of camp and they succeeded,” he said. “I was happy there. Good place, good organization, good staff. I was happy and fulfilled.”
Tagovailoa was named the starting quarterback after competing with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job throughout camp. Pennix told the Falcons’ coaching staff last week that he didn’t feel physically ready to play yet after recovering from a torn ACL all season long. Penix was cleared for 11-on-11 practice on Aug. 24 but did not appear in preseason games.
Penix will be inactive for Sunday’s game, Stefanski said Monday.