The Atlanta Falcons have entered Week 1 of the NFL season in disarray with wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus named as both their emergency quarterback AND running back.
Quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr have both been ruled out of the first game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tagovailoa suffered an oblique injury in midweek, while Penix Jr is still not ready to be active after last year’s knee injury.
Third-string Cooper Rush will start with undrafted free agent rookie Jack Strand – the only other quarterback on the roster – serving as his backup. However, Rush suffered back spasms on Saturday to add even more concern ahead of the game.
And with Tagovailoa out and Penix Jr also not being active, the Falcons have been forced to name wide receiver Zaccheaus as their emergency third-string should their two actual quarterbacks get hurt.
Not only is Zaccheaus needing to be primed to play quarterback, he is also being lined up to play running back.
Star man Bijan Robinson and backup Brian Robinson are the team’s only active running backs, leading to Zaccheaus also being the emergency third-string.
Olamide Zaccheaus will be the Falcons’ emergency third QB with Tua Tagovailoa out injured
Zaccheaus is also primed to fill in as the team’s emergency third running back if necessary
Cooper Rush is starting in Week 1 for the Atlanta Falcons with Tagovailoa and Penix Jr out
Zaccheaus played running back and defensive back in high school before becoming a wide receiver at the University of Virginia. He joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and carved out a role on the team.
He is now back in Atlanta after signing a two-year, $4.5 million contract in the offseason after playing for the Chicago Bears last year following time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders.
Starting quarterback in Week 1 Cooper Rush is also a new face with the team, signing a one-year deal after being with the Baltimore Ravens last season.
Rush has started 16 games in his NFL career, 14 of them with the Dallas Cowboys, and has a 9-7 record, including going 4-4 when he started eight games for the Cowboys in 2024 while Dak Prescott was injured.
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski shared his message to Rush as he stepped in as starter, telling him to utilize Robinson and his other playmakers.
‘Simple: be yourself. Operate the offense. Get the ball out quickly to your playmakers,’ Stefanski told ESPN of his message to Rush.
‘You know, I’ve never seen Bijan Robinson play in a game. I’ve seen him in practice and on film but never live in a game. I’m really excited.’
‘He’s a pro’s pro. He knows how to prepare, knows how to operate an offense, he’s been part of good teams and had good coaches.
Backup quarterbacks always make good coaches because they have to prepare like the starter and be part psychiatrist for the starter at the same time.’
