The quarterback situation for the Falcons is looking pretty bleak right now.
During a rough outing on Sunday, third-string quarterback Cooper Rush struggled, prompting former second overall pick Robert Griffin III to express his concerns about the Atlanta quarterback lineup.
On social media, Griffin stated, “Seeing Cooper Rush and Jack Strand not performing well in Atlanta makes it puzzling that quarterbacks like Cam Newton, Jimmy Garoppolo, Ryan Tannehill, and I aren’t there to offer some veteran guidance when a team’s QB is out.” He noted that these other quarterbacks were playing for Carolina that day.
Rush was benched in Week 2 during a tough 34-3 defeat against Carolina, finishing with just 10 completions on 17 attempts for 86 yards, alongside two interceptions and a lost fumble on the very first drive. Strand didn’t do much better, managing only 59 yards through the air and another interception.
This past offseason, the Falcons made a significant investment in their offense, bringing in new head coach Kevin Stefanski and signing Pro-Bowler Tua Tagovailoa in hopes of enhancing their 2024 first-round pick, Michael Penix Jr.
Unfortunately, the team has faced some major setbacks, as both starting quarterbacks were injured before the season even started. This is only adding to the frustration for key players like Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts.
Griffin has a solid history in the NFL, with seven seasons under his belt, where he threw for 9,200 yards and 43 touchdowns, completing 63 percent of his passes.
After a promising start, he burst onto the scene as the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012, but injuries ultimately hindered his career trajectory.
He last played during the 2020 season as a backup for the Ravens, where he completed 8 of 14 passes for 42 yards and totaled two interceptions across four games.
Since then, Griffin has moved into television analysis, working with ESPN and Fox Sports.
The Falcons are looking ahead to a short week with a Thursday night matchup against Green Bay, now getting a boost with Penix Jr. confirmed to take his first start of the season.
