Falcons Sign Veteran QB Andy Dalton, Cut Cooper Rush

Atlanta Falcons add Andy Dalton to bolster quarterback depth

The Atlanta Falcons are signing veteran quarterback Andy Dalton and releasing Cooper Rush. Here’s what the move means for Michael Penix Jr. and the team’s depth chart.

Falcons upgrade backup QB spot with signing of Andy Dalton...

The Atlanta Falcons are adding experienced depth to their quarterback room. On Monday, sources confirmed the team is signing 16-year veteran Andy Dalton while releasing Cooper Rush in a corresponding roster move.

Dalton, most recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, becomes available after his release on October 9. He appeared in one game for the Eagles this season, stepping in briefly for Jalen Hurts and throwing an interception on his only pass attempt. The Eagles later offered him a chance to return amid Hurts’ season-ending issues with blood clots, but Dalton declined and chose Atlanta instead.

This marks Dalton’s seventh NFL team and continues a journeyman career that began as the Cincinnati Bengals’ longtime starter (2011–2019). The 38-year-old (turning 39 later this month) has 169 career starts, roughly 39,800 passing yards, 254 touchdowns, and 152 interceptions, along with an 84-84 record as a starter and a career completion percentage around 62.6%. He spent the previous three seasons primarily as a backup with the Carolina Panthers and has also played for the Saints, among others.

Why the Falcons Made the Move

Atlanta has navigated a messy quarterback situation in 2026. The team has already used multiple signal-callers due to injuries, carrying four quarterbacks for much of the year: starter Michael Penix Jr., Tua Tagovailoa, Rush, and undrafted rookie Jack Strand. The Falcons sit at 2-4 after Sunday’s loss to the Chicago Bears, during which Penix threw three touchdowns but the team still fell short.

Rush struggled in limited action earlier, going 0-2 as a starter with inefficient numbers. Replacing him with Dalton provides a clear upgrade in experience and reliability for the backup/third-string role. Dalton is expected to compete or slot in behind Penix and Tagovailoa, giving the Falcons a more seasoned option if further injuries hit an ongoing concern given Penix and Tagovailoa’s recent availability issues.

Falcons signing QB Andy Dalton. (via @rapsheet, @adamschefter) https://t.co/SsIZGQk0YJ

— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2026

 

What It Means Going Forward

For the Falcons, this is a low-risk addition that prioritizes stability. Dalton is unlikely to start unless injuries force the issue, but his presence offers leadership, practice-squad quality reps for the young players, and a steady hand if needed. It also keeps four quarterbacks on the roster, with Strand remaining as the developmental option.

For Dalton, it’s another chapter in a durable career defined by professionalism and availability. Signing with an NFC South team (his third in the division after stints with the Panthers and Saints) keeps him in a familiar competitive environment as the Falcons try to climb back into the divisional race.

The move underscores how thin and injury-prone NFL quarterback rooms can become midseason. Atlanta is banking on Dalton’s experience to provide insurance without disrupting the current hierarchy behind Penix. Whether he stays strictly as QB3 or earns a higher role remains to be seen on the practice field, but the “Red Rifle” now has a new home in Atlanta.