The Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback situation has already turned into one of the NFL’s messier early-season stories, and Robert Griffin III decided to wade right into it.
After Atlanta’s lopsided Week 2 defeat, the former quarterback took to social media to argue that teams in need of help are overlooking veteran options. The Falcons had already moved on from Kirk Cousins in the offseason, then watched expected starter Tua Tagovailoa go down with an oblique injury just before the opener. That left Cooper Rush to start the first two games, and the results have been rough: two straight losses, 22 completions on 39 attempts, 229 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions.
Griffin’s point was that quarterbacks with experience should be getting more serious consideration when a team’s starter goes down. On X, he wrote, “When Cooper Rush and Jack Strand are stinking it up in Atlanta it makes zero sense that QBs like Cam Newton, Jimmy Garoppolo, Ryan Tannehill and myself aren’t the veteran presence in the room to stabilize teams when their QB goes down.”
That last part set off a wave of backlash online, with fans immediately zeroing in on Griffin including himself in the conversation. Griffin has not taken a regular-season snap in the NFL since his time with Baltimore in late 2020. That season, he served as Lamar Jackson’s primary backup, appeared in four games, made one start in Week 12 and finished with 42 passing yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.
Social media wasted little time firing back. “Bro tried to sneak himself in there,” one fan said.
“Who was the last guy you mentioned?” one account asked.
“And myself,” a third fan mocked.
“RG3 slipping himself in that lineup,” one final person commented.
Even with the jokes flying, the Falcons’ quarterback picture remains unsettled, and the source of the debate is clear: Atlanta is already deep into instability at the most important position on the field.
In Other News...
Falcons Offense May Finally Get The Jolt Its Core Needs
After a rocky opening to the 2026 season, the Falcons are getting close to a much-needed reset under center. Michael Penix Jr. is expected back as the starter in Week 3, a development that could finally give Atlantas offense a steadier rhythm after Cooper Rush was forced into early action and struggled to move the group consistently.
That matters because this is not a roster short on core talent. Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts are all locked in on long-term contracts, giving Atlanta a foundation worth building around if the quarterback play stabilizes. Even with Penix's return offering some hope, the bigger picture still points toward 2027, when the Falcons may need to find their long-term answer at quarterback for good. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Face A Bigger QB Problem Than Just Cooper Rush
Cooper Rushs two starts have already pushed the Falcons into an uncomfortable spot at quarterback. Since stepping in because of injuries elsewhere on the depth chart, he has managed only one touchdown against four interceptions, and the benching in Week 2 made it clear the team is not getting the kind of control it needs from the position. More than the numbers, the concern is how much the offense has had to shrink around him, with the coaching staff appearing to trim the playbook rather than ask him to do too much.
The bigger issue is what comes next if Atlanta keeps looking for stability under center. Rushs struggles are not just a short-term problem for the Falcons, they may also ripple beyond their own building by changing how teams view veteran quarterbacks with a similar skill set. If Atlanta cannot get cleaner play from the position soon, the conversation will shift from one backup filling in to whether the Falcons have to rethink the entire way theyre managing the quarterback room. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Are Betting Nick Folk Can Stop A Bigger Problem
Nick Folks rough start has not pushed the Falcons into an early change, at least not yet. After two games of the 2026 season, Atlanta is still sticking with the veteran kicker, leaning on the belief that experience and steady work on fundamentals can help him settle back in as the year goes along. Special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman has framed the approach as one of patience, keeping the focus on technique rather than panic.
The timing matters because the Falcons are moving into a game against the Green Bay Packers with a position that can swing close contests still under a microscope. Atlanta is clearly hoping the support structure around Folk can help him regain his rhythm before the misses turn into something harder to manage, and the next few kicks will say plenty about whether that confidence pays off. [Read more 🡒]