The Atlanta Falcons may have the answer already to the question everyone is asking.
The Atlanta Falcons are headed into a Week 2 showdown with a divisional opponent coming to town in the home opener in the Carolina Panthers. Games against any division team are always tough, and these two teams have not given each other an inch over the years.
Atlanta is in a rough spot coming off a Week 1 defeat against the Pittsburgh Steelers with their third string quarterback getting the start in Cooper Rush after an ongoing situation with Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa got worse late in the week. Penix was given some extra time to get ready and fully recovery mentally and physically from his torn ACL, leaving the job to Tagovailoa.
Unfortunately, an oblique issue for the former Alabama quarterback forced Rush into action where he was very clearly overwhelmed by the Steelers pass rush. Those hoping to see someone new in Week 2 though may have had their bubble burst on Tuesday morning with the team's release ahead of the Wednesday press conference.
Falcons Media Advisory Indicates Cooper Rush Start
It should be clarified that the advisory could certainly be updated again before Wednesday or feature no starting quarterback at all if the decision is still being made, but this does seem like a clear sign as to where things are at with both Penix and Tagovailoa.
An oblique injury is serious for a quarterback given how much rotating of the body they have to do, so it feels unlikely Tagovailoa would be fully recovered and ready to go by this point. As for Penix, the determination that he was not ready to go for Week 1 does not make it seem like he will be instantly ready for Week 2 either.
Given that the Falcons are not going to throw Jack Strand into the fire, this would only mean Rush is going to be the guy for at least one more week.
Things could change with Tagovailoa or Penix, however sitting just about five days before the game, it seems like things are trending towards the second straight start for Cooper Rush.
The good news is that the Panthers defense is a whole lot softer than Pittsburgh, coming off a performance where it allowed 59 points to the Chicago Bears. Regardless, division games are always unpredictable, and Atlanta is going to have a strong chance at winning this game at home no matter who winds up starting at quarterback.
