The Baltimore Ravens’ 2025 season was a massive letdown. It seemed like the majority of the roster struggled, and among the biggest disappointments was quite clearly Cooper Rush. The quarterback that Baltimore signed to backup Lamar Jackson got his chance in the spotlight, and he flopped.
Rush appeared in four games and started two last season. The results? 0 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
It didn’t take Sherlock Holmes to figure out that Rush was a failed signing, and Tyler Huntley swiftly took his job. This offseason, Huntley was the one re-signed, while Rush was released.
Now, Rush has gone from a respected backup to a quarterback looking to redeem himself. He got the lifeline he needed on Wednesday, as he signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
Failed Baltimore Ravens QB Cooper Rush receives shot to restore reputation
This move will be an opportunity for Rush to get on the field and bounce back from what was a disastrous season in Baltimore. He was once a well-respected backup quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys, putting up fine numbers en route to a 9-5 record during his tenure there, but he fell flat once he put on the purple and black. It was obvious since the 2025 preseason that he was never a good fit, so maybe a change of scenery could benefit him.
Of course, the Falcons should have their quarterbacks set in stone for 2026. Their room has two potential starters in Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa. Both of those guys are dealing with injuries, though—Penix is still recovering from a 2025 ACL tear, and Tagovailoa is currently out of action due to back tightness.
It’s not just a one-time thing for those two guys either. Injuries have plagued the two not just in their NFL career, but dating back to their very successful collegiate careers. It feels like there’s not a season that goes by where they don’t find themselves on the injury report at least once.
With that in mind, the door is open for Rush to seize the moment in training camp and preseason, and maybe even in the regular season.
For Penix, there’s a real possibility that he’s not ready to go once the regular season kicks off. He’s recovering from the third ACL tear of his football career, and reports have said he may still be four weeks away from suiting back up. And even based on that timeline, it’s fair to expect Atlanta to be extremely cautious with him; one month could honestly turn to two months.
Then there’s Tagovailoa, who has played a full slate of games just once in his six-year career (2023). He’s already dealing with the injury bug in Atlanta, and although the back issue is considered minor, that stuff tends to linger. Pair that with his injury history, and it might be realistic to say Rush could see meaningful reps in the coming month.
Overall, this might be Rush’s last shot to revive his career. He’s being gifted a golden chance, and he can’t afford to waste it. If he does, his NFL dream might come crashing to an end.
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