Falcons making a clear mistake continuing to roster Cooper Rush

The Atlanta Falcons continuing to roster Cooper Rush is a surprising decision given the way the quarterback started the season. As a reminder, Rush was an emergency addition only because the veteran quarterback was needed after Michael Penix Jr. didn't recover as fast as hoped, and Trevor Siemian was dealt an injury that caused the two sides to part ways, as the emergency backup wasn't going to be capable of taking the needed reps.

Enter Rush and the quarterback's chance to start the first two games of the season. Atlanta, in these games, was the only team in the league not to manage a single play in the red zone. Adding to the frustration was the elite ability of Rush to find ways to create turnovers and give the ball away at the worst possible moments.

It isn't as if Rush was bringing any upside; this wasn't Jameis Winston pushing the ball down the field, taking risks, and these decisions having a 50/50 chance of helping either side. Rush couldn't do anything aside from get the ball to Bijan Robinson, and at times this was a challenge as the veteran backup looked slow and incredibly limited, leading us to continue to wonder why the quarterback remains rostered.

Penix does have an alarming injury history, as does Tua Tagovailoa, who is expected to be the team's primary backup moving forward. However, the Falcons simply cannot do any worse if the franchise was pushed into a desperate situation, an upgrade over Rush could be found via trade or free agency.

Falcons Must Part Ways with Cooper Rush as Quarterback's Presence Embraces Mediocrity

The Falcons shouldn't hesitate to go ahead and create a roster spot that can be utilized for a player with a higher chance of offering a positive impact. Rush isn't going to take the field again for Atlanta unless the team is actively tanking. Keeping the veteran on the roster means this mindset is still on the table, as there simply isn't anything to be gained by rostering a proven liability.

Proving that there is a standard and a sense of belief in your current roster would be wise and would help set up the Falcons for a better chance to take advantage of a wide-open NFC South. It will be interesting to watch whether the move is made or if Atlanta continues to be content with how things currently sit.

For Rush, it has been an impressive career when you consider the clear talent limitations and the lack of a resume that suggests capability. It is time for the Falcons to turn the page and either trade for or sign an option that at least gives you a puncher's chance, something that Rush has proven he cannot offer.

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