Sports
The Falcons add 16-year veteran quarterback Andy Dalton and release Cooper Rush
Atlanta reshuffles its quarterback room after a 31-23 loss to the Bears. Dalton has 169 career starts and was released by the Eagles on Oct. 9.
The Atlanta Falcons are shaking up their quarterback room.
Atlanta is signing veteran Andy Dalton and releasing Cooper Rush, according to reports Monday. The move comes a day after a 31-23 home loss to the Chicago Bears dropped the Falcons to 2-4.
A crowded room
The Falcons had carried four quarterbacks since training camp: starter Michael Penix Jr., Tua Tagovailoa, Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand.
Rush started the first two games of the season while Penix (ACL) and Tagovailoa (oblique) were out. Atlanta scored 16 points combined in those two games, the fewest in the league.
Penix left the Week 5 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens with a rib injury. Tagovailoa came on in overtime and threw the game-ending interception.
Penix was back on the field Sunday against Chicago. He was sacked five times but said he came out of the game healthy and that his ribs were not an issue.
What Dalton brings
Dalton was most recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, who released him on Oct. 9. He threw one pass this season and it was intercepted.
He started seven games for the Carolina Panthers from 2023 to 2025. He was the Cincinnati Bengals' primary starter from 2011 to 2019.
Over 16 seasons Dalton has made 169 starts and won 84 of them. He has thrown for 39,793 yards with 254 touchdown passes and 152 interceptions while completing 62.6% of his throws.
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