The Atlanta Falcons still have a quarterback problem to solve, and their schedule is about to make it even harder…They're 0-2 but are about to play in three straight primetime games, starting with a Thursday Night clash on the road against the Green Bay Packers.
Cooper Rush made his second straight start against the Carolina Panthers as Tua Tagovailoa was doubtful with an oblique injury, while Michael Penix Jr. was ruled out for the second consecutive game, but it didn't go well as Atlanta fell to the Panthers by a score of 34-3 in the home opener.
Rush turned the ball over three times and was benched midway through the third quarter for undrafted rookie Jack Strand--which complicates things. We don't know if Penix or Tua will be back yet but there is optimism, but facin
Then comes the real problem - The Falcons travel to Lambeau Field for a Thursday night matchup with the Packers just three days from now. That gives Atlanta very little time to figure out who will lead the offense into Week 3, especially if the team hopes to get Penix back into the mix.
Penix has been close to returning, but the Falcons are clearly taking their time with him as he told reporters earlier this week that he was "really close" but still had a few goals he wanted to hit before returning to the field. A
Atlanta could suddenly have three very different possibilities heading into Green Bay.
The short week could force Atlanta's hand in naming a Week 3 starter
Rush could get the job by proxy, but this doesn't seem particularly likely after what we saw yesterday. Tua could recover from his oblique injury and reclaim his spot. Or Penix could finally be cleared and push his way back into the starting conversation.
None of those decisions will be easy with a Thursday game sitting right behind this loss.
Both signal-callers have yet to play this season. The Falcons also split first team reps between Rush and Penix last week as they worked through the Week 2 quarterback situation. That kind of uncertainty is manageable with a full week between games. It becomes a different situation when the next game arrives on Thursday night.
The Atlanta Falcons don't necessarily need to settle their long-term quarterback situation after one game against Carolina. But they will need to know who is taking the majority of the first team reps almost immediately.
There simply won't be enough time to spend another few days sorting everything out. The Panthers game could go a long way toward making that decision easier…
If Tua Tagovailoa is healthy, the Falcons could turn to him. And if Michael Penix Jr. finally is ready to return in time for the Week 3 target date that was reported, that completely changes the conversation.
For now, the Falcons have to get through practice after a brutal division loss in the home opener--but then they'll have a very short week to figure out what comes next.
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