Ian Cunningham didn’t dodge the obvious question after the Falcons finalized their initial 53-man roster: why carry four quarterbacks?
Atlanta’s first roster under new leadership already signaled that Kevin Stefanski and Cunningham are willing to get creative. They made some sharp, unconventional calls along the way, including keeping just two running backs and three edge rushers. But the move that stood out most was the decision to keep all four quarterbacks - Cooper Rush, Jack Strand, Tua Tagovailoa, and Michael Penix Jr. - after Strand’s preseason surge.
Cunningham said the logic was simple: the Falcons didn’t want to lose a quarterback for nothing.
"If you let a guy like Cooper go, there's an opportunity he might get with another team," Cunningham said. "A guy like Strand, some team could have claimed him on waivers."
That risk mattered even more with Strand, the undrafted rookie who turned heads in the preseason. Cunningham said the team felt the rookie had done an "admirable" job, and Atlanta didn’t want to expose him to waivers. In their view, keeping him on the 53 was the safest way to protect a developmental quarterback they believe has real upside.
Rush’s presence also gave the room a veteran layer. With Penix Jr. still not 100% and Tagovailoa carrying an injury history, the Falcons weren’t eager to rush Strand into action before they had to. Rush, who was solid as QB3 in the preseason, gives them someone who can steady things if needed.
That still leaves Atlanta with a quarterback group that Cunningham and Stefanski know is not exactly a strength relative to the rest of the league. Even so, the front office appears comfortable with the depth chart for now, especially if the alternative is losing one of those passers on waivers.
There’s also a broader pattern here. Stefanski has carried four quarterbacks before, and this new regime has made it clear it wants the roster built its way. With the Falcons’ future under center still unsettled, the choice to keep all four is less a surprise than a reflection of how they’re approaching the position: hold onto the options now, sort it out later.
In Other News...
Falcons QB Plan May Already Be Telling Fans Everything About Penix
The Falcons quarterback picture is already carrying more intrigue than most teams would want this early, and Michael Penix Jr. remains at the center of it. According to NFL Networks Cameron Wolfe, Atlanta intends to get a real look at Penix at some point so it can better evaluate him ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft, even if Tua Tagovailoa opens the season against the Steelers. For a team that has spent the offseason trying to settle its future under center, that plan says plenty about how seriously the Falcons are weighing their long-term options.
Penixs path back is also being handled with care after the ACL injury he suffered in 2025, which could shape how the early-season rotation unfolds. Atlanta has not decided who will start in 2026, and both Penix and Tagovailoa remain in the conversation, so the next few months may be less about one game than about how the organization maps out its quarterback timeline. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Took A Risk Up Front They Could Regret Fast
The Falcons defensive front has been in flux, and the latest roster shuffle showed just how thin the margin can get. General manager Ian Cunningham said waiving Zach Harrison to make room for three waiver claims was a difficult decision, a reminder that Atlanta is trying to patch together depth while injuries and suspensions continue to hit the group up front.
Harrison did not stay away long, returning to the Falcons on the practice squad, where his presence still matters for a line trying to hold together through the turbulence. Even without a spot on the active roster, he gives Atlanta veteran leadership and another body to lean on, which makes the original move look less like a clean cut and more like a risk the team may have to manage all over again. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Practice Squad Move May Be Hinting At Another O-Line Decision
With Kyle Hinton and Kam Dewberry both dealing with injuries, the Falcons added another body to the interior offensive line mix by signing Josh Thompson to the practice squad. Thompson, an undrafted free agent out of LSU, spent the summer with the Kansas City Chiefs and now steps into one of Atlantas remaining practice squad openings as the team tries to keep some depth around a position group that has already been tested.
The move is straightforward on its face, but it also naturally raises questions about what comes next for the Falcons up front. Practice squad additions are often about coverage and contingency, and with guard depth suddenly thin, this one feels like it could be tied to a short-term roster adjustment if the injuries linger. For now, though, Atlanta is simply making sure it has another interior lineman available while the picture sorts itself out. [Read more 🡒]