Who will start at quarterback for the Falcons? Stefanski wants more time after Cooper Rush’s showing

After the season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, new head coach Kevin Stefanski is weighing options at the quarterback position for the first home game against the Carolina Panthers. He said he has not yet made a decision and wants to work more with the team before choosing who will start.

As NFL reports, a significant factor in the decision remains the players’ health. Michael Penix Jr. is rehabilitating from an ACL tear that ended his 2025 season and has said he still doesn’t feel fully ready, although last month he said he was very close to returning. Stefanski added that he hopes to have more clarity on all positions soon.

Veteran Cooper Rush started the Week 1 game and finished 12-of-22 for 143 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. His performance was also reflected in lower statistics, including passer rating and yards per passing attempt, and Stefanski emphasized that players must improve, acknowledging that the mistakes that led to the loss need to be fixed.

The team is also focusing on ways to help the quarterback, dealing with unfavorable down-and-distance situations that make it difficult for the offense to advance. Moreover, the loss also marked significant injuries in the offensive line unit: Da’Shawn Hand suffered a quadriceps muscle injury that requires surgery and ends his season after only seven games, while right guard Chris Lindstrom was placed in concussion protocol after an attempt to stop an interception return.

Field-goal problems continued to affect Atlanta: Nick Folk’s leg was unsteady in this game, missing his first two kicks and making two more later. Statistically, the club has lost more points on missed kicks since 2023 (81 points) than any stretch, and the field-goal conversion rate in this period is 75.3 percent, according to analysts’ data.

The returns and the use of young players highlighted potential: rookie Zachariah Branch had a 30-yard kick return and three punt returns for 33 yards total, while players like Gervon Dexter and Maason Smith got plenty of minutes on defense. The role of the youngsters and the rotation of minutes was noticeable — Kendal Daniels played 45 snaps as an inside linebacker, while Harold Perkins Jr. often substituted in passing situations. Stefanski said they are evaluating the new roles and will decide who will start once they have more clarity on the team’s condition, according to the NFL.