Cooper Rush
Quarterback #10
Cooper Rush News
Cooper Rush a Very Low-End Option at QB in Week 2
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush didn't do much with his opportunity as starting QB in Week 1's loss to Pittsburgh, completing 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown while tossing two interceptions. The veteran QB will get another shot in Week 2 against a much softer defense as the Falcons take on the Panthers at home. Last week, Caleb Williams threw for 269 yards and two scores while adding 10 rushes for 65 yards and an additional two touchdowns. Rush is not the same caliber of quarterback as Williams, though, and with the Bears running at will against Carolina (two running backs had over 100 yards), the Falcons could very well try to do the same thing with Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr. With a likely heavy dose of the ground attack and a low likelihood of being very effective through the air, the nine-year pro ranks as QB31 this week at RotoBaller, making him avoidable outside of Superflex leagues and sets him up as a DFS dart throw in tournaments.
Sep 19, 2026 8:43 AM EST
Cooper Rush Confirmed as Week 2 Starter
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush has again been named the starter ahead of the team's Week 2 divisional matchup with the Carolina Panthers, with head coach Kevin Stefanski confirming on Friday. Rush was thrust into a starting role two days ahead of the Falcons' season-opening loss to the Steelers, when Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) popped up on the injury report and was ruled out with an oblique injury. With the Falcons already ruling out 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. ahead of Sunday's game, Rush will make his second consecutive start, making all Falcons pass-catchers difficult to trust even against a Panthers defense fresh off allowing 59 points to the Chicago Bears. Rush completed only 12 passes in Week 1, with eight going to running back Bijan Robinson, while Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr. combined for four targets, two receptions, and 29 yards. Rush is RotoBaller's QB32 for Week 2.
Sep 18, 2026 9:51 AM EST
Cooper Rush Trending Towards Making Another Start
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush is taking the majority of the throws with the starters in the final practice of the week on Friday, according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Raimondi notes that this is the same way last Friday looked before Rush made the start in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) has been practicing in full as he finishes off the final stages of his recovery from a partially torn ACL late last year, but without full first-team reps in practice this week, he is unlikely to make his 2026 season debut this weekend against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) has not practiced all week and is expected to be officially ruled out for Week 2 on Friday. The 32-year-old Rush threw for 143 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in last week's 20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he could be in for a better showing this weekend against a Carolina defense that gave up nearly 60 points to the Chicago Bears in the season opener.
Sep 18, 2026 8:29 AM EST
Cooper Rush Getting Treatment on his Back
Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said that quarterback Cooper Rush (back) is "still getting treatment on his back," but also said that he will be a full participant in practice on Wednesday, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Rush dealt with some back spasms late last week but ended up starting in Week 1. Stefanski added that he is not ruling anyone out at QB as the team prepares for a Week 2 tilt on Sunday against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Rush and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) will practice, while Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) will sit out. Penix is not believed to be ready for game action as he recovers from a partially torn ACL he suffered late last year, so if Tagovailoa is ruled out again, Rush is the favorite to make a second straight start for the Falcons. The 32-year-old Rush was not terrible in the season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he was not great either, going 12-for-22 passing for 143 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in the 20-13 defeat. If he makes another start this weekend, Rush will merely be a desperation QB2 option in superflex formats.
Sep 16, 2026 8:43 AM EST
Cooper Rush Could Draw Another Start in Week 2
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush could end up making a second straight start Sunday against Carolina. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Tua Tagovailoa's oblique strain can linger, leaving his Week 2 status up in the air, while Michael Penix Jr. still isn't ready for live game action. That keeps Rush squarely in the picture after a rough opener in Pittsburgh. He completed 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the 20-13 loss and was sacked four times. Tagovailoa had been named the Week 1 starter before getting hurt in practice, but Atlanta may have to wait a little longer for either him or Penix. Rush doesn't offer much fantasy appeal if he gets another start, even against Carolina. He remains more of an emergency option in deeper two-quarterback and Superflex leagues.
Sep 16, 2026 7:38 AM EST
Cooper Rush the QB Placeholder For Falcons Going into Week 2
The Athletic's Josh Kendall reports that the Atlanta Falcons updated their media advisory for the week on Tuesday, with the old one listed as "starting QB press conference" on Wednesday. The new one reads: "QB Cooper Rush press conference." The NFL Network's Steve Wyche checked in on this and was told that the Falcons listed Rush "based on no new information." Head coach Kevin Stefanski will announce who the Week starting QB is "whenever he decides to make his decision public." So for lack of a better term, Rush is the team's starting QB placeholder for now, with both Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) dealing with injuries. Penix is still recovering from a partially torn ACL late last year, and while he is progressing, he might not be ready for the Week 2 contest against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Tagovailoa was set to start in the Week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, but an oblique injury in practice last Thursday forced him out, and he might be trending towards missing a second straight game. If Rush makes a second straight start for Atlanta this weekend, fantasy managers will need to downgrade all of the team's offensive weapons again. The 32-year-old Rush threw for 143 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in the 20-13 loss to Pittsburgh.
Sep 15, 2026 9:05 AM EST
Cooper Rush Good to Go Against Steelers in Week 1
Atlanta Falcons backup quarterback Cooper Rush (back) is officially active for Sunday's Week 1 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers after dealing with minor back spasms on Saturday, according to Tori McElhaney of the team's official website. The Falcons had already ruled out both Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) for Week 1, leaving Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand as the only QBs on the roster for the Falcons to begin the 2026 regular season. It is good news that Rush is ready to go, but Rush leading Atlanta's offense in Week 1 is not what fantasy managers of Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts Sr. had in mind when they drafted those players. Against a very capable Steelers defense, the expectation is that Atlanta's offense will struggle to move the football effectively on Sunday, so fantasy managers who have Robinson, London, and Pitts in their lineups in Week 1 should be tempering expectations for their overall production. As far as Rush, he is simply a low-upside streaming option in superflex leagues that fantasy managers should be avoiding, especially since he could suffer a setback with his back mid-game.
Sep 13, 2026 7:57 AM EST
Cooper Rush Remains on Track to Start Against Steelers
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush (back) is still expected to be active for Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Rush had been dealing with back spasms, but he reportedly "is feeling better" and will be able to play in the season opener. It's a rare positive headline about a Falcons quarterback, as Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) were both ruled out ahead of time. Rush is technically the Falcons' third-string quarterback, but he'll now be tasked with staying upright and leading the offensive charge against the Steelers and star pass rusher T.J. Watt. For what it's worth, Rush ranks as a clear QB3 in fantasy football this week.
Sep 13, 2026 5:24 AM EST
Cooper Rush Battling Back Spasms, Still Expected to Play in Week 1
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush (back) experienced back spasms on Saturday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. With Falcons quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) both ruled out for Week 1, Rush is in line to start the team's season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Schefter reports that Atlanta still expects Rush to be active, but it appears he may not be fully healthy. A career backup, Rush threw for 303 yards, zero touchdowns, and four interceptions across four games (two starts) with the Baltimore Ravens in 2025. With a hobbled Rush under center, fantasy managers should downgrade expectations for Falcons wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. If Rush is unable to play, undrafted rookie quarterback Jack Strand would be the next man up for Atlanta.
Sep 12, 2026 12:19 PM EST
Cooper Rush Gets the Start in Week 1, but Tough Matchup Awaits
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush will get the starting nod on Sunday against the Steelers with Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) both ruled out. Rush will have a full complement of offensive weapons at his disposal, including stars Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts Sr., but a road matchup against the Steelers could make for a rough afternoon. The Pittsburgh defense was exploitable against the pass in 2025, conceding 244.9 yards per contest, which was fourth-most in the NFL, and 30 passing touchdowns. However, the addition of Jamel Dean in the offseason should help, and a healthy T.J. Watt could make things very uncomfortable for Rush. With the Falcons owning an implied point total of 17.5, second-lowest of any Week 1 contest, the potential for the veteran QB to put up big numbers doesn't look good. With a ranking of QB31 this week at RotoBaller, the 32-year-old signal caller should be avoided in both season-long and DFS if at all possible.
Sep 12, 2026 8:38 AM EST
Cooper Rush a Sneaky Superflex Stash Candidate Amid QB Injuries
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush has mostly operated as a backup throughout his career to this point, appearing in 42 games and logging 16 starts across eight NFL seasons. However, with Falcons QB1 Tua Tagovailoa's (oblique) status for Week 1 up in the air, Rush could be in line to make the start against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. The 32-year-old's last extended stretch as a starter was in 2024, when he completed 60.7% of his pass attempts for 1,844 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions across 12 games (eight starts) with the Dallas Cowboys. Rush has averaged just 6.3 yards per pass attempt for his career, so he's unlikely to provide high-end fantasy production if he's forced into action for the Falcons. Still, he could be worth rostering in two-QB formats just in case Tagovailoa misses time to begin the year.
Sep 10, 2026 1:00 PM EST
Cooper Rush Could Start at QB For Falcons in Week 1
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush said he took all the reps with the first-team offense in Thursday's practice after Tua Tagovailoa (back) suffered a lower-back injury, according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Tagovailoa, who missed the start of training camp this summer with lower-back spasms, is now up in the air to play in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Michael Penix Jr. (knee) has already been ruled out for the season opener while he continues to recover from a partially torn ACL he suffered late last season. If Tagovailoa is ruled out for this weekend, Rush would most likely make the start, with undrafted rookie Jack Strand backing him up. The 32-year-old Rush would be a desperation QB2 in deep superflex leagues if he makes the start this weekend, which would be only his 17th NFL start since entering the league in 2017 as an undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan. The Steelers' defense/special teams unit should be considered a top-five option, regardless of who starts under center for the Falcons. Rush played in four games (two starts) with the Baltimore Ravens in 2025 and threw for 303 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions.
Sep 10, 2026 12:14 PM EST
Falcons Sign Quarterback Cooper Rush
With quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. both dealing with injuries to begin training camp, the Atlanta Falcons have signed veteran Cooper Rush, according to NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Penix did not practice throughout OTAs or minicamp as he continues to recover from a 2025 season-ending knee injury, and Tagovailoa is reported to be experiencing back tightness ahead of training camp, forcing the Falcons to add Rush two days before their first practice of the summer. The 32-year-old career backup started two games in 2025 in his lone season with the Ravens, throwing for 303 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions before being supplanted by Tyler Huntley and eventually released. Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Wednesday that Tagovailoa "will be out there sooner rather than later," but in the meantime, Rush could find himself briefly working with the first-team offense.
Jul 29, 2026 5:26 AM EST
Ravens Release Cooper Rush
The Baltimore Ravens released quarterback Cooper Rush on Thursday, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Rush signed a two-year, $6.2 million deal with Baltimore last offseason, but he'll be looking for work this offseason after one year with the Ravens. The 32-year-old veteran signal-caller appeared in four games for the Ravens last year and started two games with Lamar Jackson injured, going 34-for-52 passing for 303 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions. The former undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan debuted in the NFL in 2017 with the Dallas Cowboys and has completed 61.1% of his passes for 3,766 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in his eight-year career. Rush was expendable in Baltimore with Tyler Huntley returning to back up Jackson for the 2026 season.
Mar 12, 2026 8:55 AM EST
Cooper Rush Benched, Replaced by Tyler Huntley in Week 6
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush was benched during Sunday's Week 6 contest against the Los Angeles Rams. He has been replaced by Tyler Huntley, who is currently on his third stint with the organization. Rush has struggled immensely while filling in for Lamar Jackson (hamstring). Last week, he had 179 yards and three interceptions. This week, through three quarters of play before being benched, he amassed 72 yards, one interception, and one last fumble. Trailing by multiple possessions in the final quarter, Baltimore decided that a change was necessary. The pivot to Huntley gives the Ravens a more mobile and athletic option under center. He'll likely quarterback the Ravens for the rest of Sunday's contest and could be in the conversation to start Baltimore's next game in Week 8 if Jackson remains sidelined.
Oct 12, 2025 3:30 PM EST
Cooper Rush Not Much of a Starting Option in Week 6
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush is taking over for the injured Lamar Jackson (hamstring) again, and it doesn't seem to be any better of a situation. Even though the Houston Texans have been the toughest fantasy matchup for opposing QBs this season, he now takes on the 12th-ranked unit against the position in the Los Angeles Rams. They allow an average of 16.02 fantasy points per game through five weeks and have only given up seven passing touchdowns total. Rush had an abysmal game last time out by throwing three interceptions with only 179 yards. Fantasy managers should look for different options if a streamer is needed due to bye weeks.
Oct 11, 2025 9:53 AM EST
Cooper Rush in Line to Make Another Start in Week 6
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush is in line to make a second straight start this Sunday in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams with Lamar Jackson (hamstring) set to miss a second straight game this weekend, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Jackson has not practiced at all since injuring his hamstring in the Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens have their bye coming up in Week 7, so the next time that Jackson will be able to play will be for a Week 8 contest against the Chicago Bears. Fantasy managers won't be waiting in line to use Rush as a QB2 in superflex leagues against a decent Rams defense after his performance in the blowout loss to the Houston Texans last Sunday. Rush threw for 179 yards on 20 pass attempts with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Mac Jones lit up L.A.'s defense last week, but we wouldn't bet on Rush doing the same this weekend.
Oct 10, 2025 12:17 PM EST
Fringe Starting Potential For Cooper Rush
Baltimore Ravens backup quarterback Cooper Rush is a fringe QB2/Superflex option with his team taking on the Houston Texans in Week 5. The veteran is filling in for the injured Lamar Jackson (hamstring) for what has been a highly effective offense, but obviously is not a 1:1 replacement for Jackson's part in the running game. Additionally, Rush will have a tough matchup, as Houston's defense is leading the NFL in scoring percentage (19%) by a significant margin and has been particularly hard on fantasy quarterbacks, allowing the second fewest points. Baltimore's offense has enough talent to give Rush a chance on Sunday, but only fantasy managers in deeper, two-QB formats should be considering him as a lineup option.
Oct 4, 2025 1:54 PM EST
Cooper Rush Trending Toward Week 5 Start
With Lamar Jackson (hamstring) expected to miss Sunday's contests against the Houston Texans, the Ravens will likely turn to Cooper Rush to serve as the QB1. Rush replaced Jackson during the Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend. The former Cowoby went 9-for-13 with 52 passing yards and no scores or interceptions. Last season, Rush served as the QB1 in Dallas for nearly half the season with Dak Prescott sidelined. Through Weeks 9 through 17, Rush averaged 15.5 PPR points per game and held a solid 12:4 TD:INT. During this stretch, he averaged 1991. passing yards per game. Given his tough matchup this weekend against the Texans, who have allowed the fewest PPR points to opposing QBs, managers should only look to start Rush in deeper 14+ superflex formats.
Sep 30, 2025 3:40 PM EST
Cooper Rush Sees Limited Action in Preseason Win
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush had a perfect passing day in the 30-3 preseason win over the Washington Commanders, completing all five passes for 59 yards and zero touchdowns. This outing marked a bright spot in what has otherwise been an unimpressive preseason for the 31-year-old, who previously spent eight seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He ends the preseason with 27 completions on 39 attempts for 273 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. Rush is currently listed as the backup quarterback to Lamar Jackson. However, his overall subpar preseason, coupled with Devin Leary's unimpressive play, raises concerns about the Ravens' backup quarterback situation should anything happen to Jackson. Despite the statistical line in this game, it should have no significant impact on Rush's fantasy value as he remains off the radar in redraft leagues.
Aug 23, 2025 4:01 PM EST
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