Cooper Rush set for second consecutive start as Falcons face Panthers

The Atlanta Falcons are set to stick with Cooper Rush as their starting quarterback for the upcoming Week 2 clash against the Carolina Panthers. Sources confirmed on Friday that Rush will retain the starting role as the team navigates ongoing injury concerns within their quarterback room.

The decision to keep Rush under center comes as rookie Michael Penix Jr. continues his rehabilitation process. Penix has been working his way back from left ACL surgery performed last November and is not yet deemed ready for game action. During Friday’s practice session, Rush took the majority of the repetitions with the first-team offense, while Penix focused on throwing to the practice squad receivers.

Rush enters the matchup looking to improve upon his performance in the team's 20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1. During that outing, he completed 12 of 22 pass attempts for 143 yards, recording one touchdown alongside two interceptions. His performance in the season opener resulted in a 2.6 QBR, which ranked last among all NFL quarterbacks for the week. The Falcons will look for a more efficient outing from the veteran signal-caller as they aim to secure their first victory of the season against Carolina.