In the NFL, circumstances can change in the blink of an eye. One minute, head coach Kevin Stefanski had Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. set to battle it out for the starting quarterback job. The next? Neither will be available to start the season.
On July 29, following Tagovailoa’s back flare-up, the Falcons signed Cooper Rush as an emergency third- or fourth-string quarterback. With barely a month of time with the team, Rush was… rushed into action. He had a rough Week 1, though it’s not entirely his fault.
There isn’t any indication that Penix or Tagovailoa will be available in the near future. With the Carolina Panthers coming into town, the Falcons need to make a big move: bite the bullet and start Jack Strand at quarterback.
Jack who? That’s the former Minnesota State–Moorhead Dragons quarterback. He caught scouts’ eyes late in the draft process, but he was also a Division II quarterback. However, make no mistake: there’s a reason the Falcons have kept him as their fourth quarterback. He has real potential and was a no-risk, high-upside undrafted free-agent signing.
Aug 28, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Jack Strand (18) warms up prior to a pre season game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
There aren’t going to be many believers in Strand, which is understandable. He wasn’t a name on many radars entering the NFL Draft. Strand was, though, one of the highest-upside prospects.
Minnesota State–Moorhead gave Strand his chance, and in return, he didn’t do what most players would do in this transfer portal and NIL chaos era. Instead, he chose to stay in hopes of building something special with the Dragons.
He was a 3.87 GPA student, which is an excellent mark. His play on the field was even more impressive. Each season, Strand got progressively better and put together a fantastic senior campaign. He threw for 42 touchdowns and more than 3,500 yards while leading the Dragons to an 8-3 record.
The grand finale was Strand leading the Dragons over Minnesota State University, Mankato, which ranked 14th in Division II. It was their first win against MSU since 1981.
Aug 28, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Jack Strand (18) throws a pass against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter of a pre season game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Strand has excellent arm talent, sneaky athleticism and a prototypical quarterback frame scouts dream of. He has also been with the Falcons’ offense longer than Rush has.
Yes, there is risk in trotting an undrafted rookie out there to start your home opener. There’s also a risk that Rush doesn’t do better this week.
Strand’s preseason play was, frankly, better than Rush’s against the same level of talent. It’s just preseason, but it says something that the rookie was outgunning the veteran.
The only game in which you could argue Rush was better was the preseason finale. Even then, the tape told a different tale.
Will the Falcons make this move? Probably not. Penix and Tagovailoa don’t seem willing to go to battle for their team. Rush is a veteran quarterback, so that gives him the upper hand.
Still, Stefanski got pretty bad quarterback play to the playoffs in 2023. Who is to say he can’t get something out of Strand this year?
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