Falcons Shake Up QB Room, Sign Vet Andy Dalton, Release Cooper Rush

 

ATLANTA, GA — The Atlanta Falcons are making changes to their quarterback room, and this time they’re turning to a familiar NFL veteran with more than a decade of experience under center.

The Falcons announced Monday, October 19, that the organization has signed veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. In a corresponding roster move, Atlanta released quarterback Cooper Rush, who started the team’s first two games of the 2026 season.

The move comes just one day after Atlanta suffered a disappointing 31-23 loss to the Chicago Bears at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, dropping the Falcons to 2-4 on the season.

For a team that has already dealt with injuries, quarterback changes and offensive inconsistencies, adding Dalton provides another experienced option as Atlanta looks to stabilize its offense.

Dalton, originally selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round with the 35th overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft out of TCU, brings an extensive NFL résumé to Atlanta.

Now in his 16th NFL season, Dalton has appeared in 180 career games, making 169 starts while spending time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers and most recently, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Throughout his career, Dalton has completed 3,539 of 5,652 passes for 39,793 yards, 254 touchdowns and 152 interceptions, posting an 87.4 passer rating.

His career also includes three Pro Bowl selections during his time with Cincinnati, where he spent nine seasons establishing himself as a starting quarterback.

While Dalton’s most productive years came in a Bengals uniform, his experience with multiple organizations has allowed him to serve in both starting and backup roles throughout his career.

That experience could prove valuable for an Atlanta team that has already experienced its share of uncertainty at quarterback this season.

Rush joined the Falcons ahead of the 2026 season as the organization navigated injuries at the position. With Michael Penix Jr. still recovering from knee surgery and Tua Tagovailoa dealing with an oblique injury, Rush was called upon to start Atlanta’s first two regular-season games.

Unfortunately, those opportunities didn’t produce the results the Falcons hoped for.

In two starts, Rush completed 22 of 39 passes for 229 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions as Atlanta opened the season with consecutive losses.

Following Penix’s return to the starting lineup in Week 3, Rush transitioned into the emergency third-quarterback role.

Now, Dalton will enter a quarterback room that includes Penix, Tagovailoa and rookie Jack Strand.

Dalton is expected to compete with Tagovailoa for the backup position behind Penix, giving Atlanta another veteran presence capable of stepping in if needed.

But the signing also raises an interesting question: What exactly are the Falcons looking to accomplish with this move?

At 2-4, Atlanta finds itself trying to establish consistency six games into the season. Although Penix remains the starter, the organization has already seen how quickly injuries can change the direction of a season.

And Sunday’s loss to Chicago was another reminder of just how important quarterback protection, offensive execution and depth can become.

Penix faced significant pressure against the Bears, taking multiple sacks before helping orchestrate a fourth-quarter comeback that ultimately fell short.

The Falcons trailed 31-7 before Penix connected with tight end Kyle Pitts for two touchdowns, helping Atlanta pull within eight points.

However, the comeback ended when Penix was sacked and lost a fumble late in the fourth quarter.

While Dalton’s arrival doesn’t necessarily signal an immediate change at the starting position, it does provide Atlanta with additional experience and insurance behind Penix.

Dalton also arrives following a brief stint with Philadelphia. The Eagles released him on October 9 after he began the season serving as a backup to Jalen Hurts.

For the Falcons, this move represents more than simply exchanging one veteran quarterback for another.

It’s an opportunity to add a player who has navigated the highs and lows of an NFL career, understands the demands of the position and has experience leading an offense.

Of course, experience alone won’t solve Atlanta’s offensive struggles.

The Falcons must still improve pass protection, eliminate costly mistakes and find a way to establish consistency throughout all four quarters.

But having an experienced quarterback available could provide an additional layer of security for an organization looking to turn its season around.

As Atlanta prepares for its next matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, October 25, the focus will remain on improving its record and finding the consistency necessary to compete.

For now, the quarterback room has a new face, and Cooper Rush’s time in Atlanta has come to an end.

The bigger question is whether Dalton’s arrival will simply strengthen the Falcons’ depth or eventually lead to a larger role within the offense.

Either way, the Dirty Birds are making moves.

And with plenty of football still left to play, Atlanta is hoping those moves will help put the team in a better position moving forward.