Kevin Stefanski won’t rule out Jack Strand as Falcons starting quarterback

We are just a few days away from the Falcons taking the field for their Week 2 matchup against the Panthers, and head coach Kevin Stefanski won’t rule out any of the four quarterbacks on the roster as the potential starter — not even undrafted rookie Jack Strand.

The calls for Jack Strand are at an all-time high, and understandably so.

Cooper Rush just turned in one of the worst showings in NFL history. His 2.6 QBR was by far the worst mark of any signal caller in Week 1, but somehow, that number really doesn’t do his performance justice. He couldn’t even throw the ball past the line of scrimmage, and on the rare occasion the Falcons attempted to do so, disaster was usually around the corner.

There’s no right-minded individual who’s been around the game for very long that watched that performance and believes Cooper Rush should be on the field come Sunday. It’s also not like this is a new development. Rush started two games last year for the Ravens, and he averaged just 150 yards passing per game with no touchdowns and four interceptions.

The sample size is large enough that we know Rush is not a competent starting quarterback. At least with Strand there’s the possibility of untapped potential. The Falcons are going to lose anyway with Rush under center, so why not see what the new blood can provide? Strand at least has the tools from a physical standpoint to be successful.

Of course, all of this is a moot point if either Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa is cleared to play. We know Penix is healthy, but he decided to sit out Week 1, claiming he wasn’t mentally ready. We don’t know yet if that will be the case again, but Stefanski once again reiterated that Penix is cleared to play.

Hopefully that means Penix will be on the field Sunday. Not a lot of teams have dug themselves out of an 0-2 hole and made the postseason — and the task doesn’t get any easier in Week 3, with the Falcons traveling to Green Bay for a Thursday Night Football matchup with the Packers.

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(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire)