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Report: Falcons to start QB Cooper Rush vs. Panthers

By Thomson Reuters Sep 18, 2026 | 12:20 PM

By Field Level Media

Sep 18 (Field Level Media) – Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush took the ​first-team reps at practice ‌on Friday and is expected to make his second straight start on Sunday, NFL Network reported.

Atlanta (0-1) hosts NFC ‌South ​rival Carolina Panthers (0-1) in ⁠its home opener ⁠on Sunday.

Rush, 32, split the first-team reps earlier this week with Michael Penix Jr., who ​is not quite ready to return from an ACL injury ⁠suffered last season.

Tua ⁠Tagovailoa, initially slated to ​be the Week 1 starter, is ​recovering from an oblique injury sustained ‌just days before the Falcons kicked off the season at Pittsburgh.

Making his Falcons debut last ⁠Sunday, Rush completed 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards with one touchdown ⁠and ‌two interceptions in the ⁠20-13 loss to the ​Steelers.

Eight ‌of Rush’s completions were to ​running back ⁠Bijan Robinson, and Pittsburgh star T.J. Watt returned one of his interceptions 35 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

(–Field ​Level Media)