Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-20 · by Bill Trocchi The Associated Press
The Atlanta Falcons suffered a significant blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers with their quarterback situation worsening. Cooper Rush was benched in the third quarter due to poor performance, including two interceptions and a lost fumble, leading to an 8-15 completion rate for undrafted rookie Jack Strand who also threw an interception. Head coach Kevin Stefanski avoided singling out any quarterback, emphasizing team-wide disappointment without specifying plans for the upcoming game against Green Bay.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
ATLANTA (AP) — Falcons fans got what they wanted from the quarterback position Sunday.
asserted
they → get → position
With Cooper Rush struggling through a miserable afternoon, Atlanta fans were calling for undrafted rookie Jack Strand to come in off the bench.
asserted
Strand → struggle → bench
When coach Kevin Stefanski removed Rush with the Falcons trailing Carolina 27-3 in the third quarter, Strand entered to a loud ovation.
asserted
Strand → remove → ovation
And then he threw a pick-6 on his first pass.
asserted
he → throw → pass
The Falcons’ problems at quarterback continued in an ugly 34-3 loss to the Panthers.
asserted
problems → continue → Panthers
Rush finished 10 of 17 for 86 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble.
asserted
Rush → finish → interceptions
Strand’s stats — 8 of 15 for 59 yards with an interception and a lost fumble — were compiled during mop-up time against Panthers second-stringers with Bijan Robinson, Drake London and other starters on the Falcons sideline.
asserted
stats → lose → sideline
Stefanski declined to single out his quarterbacks after the game.
asserted
Stefanski → decline → game
“I’m disappointed in our performance as a football team,” he said.
asserted
he → ’m → team
“That’s all of us.
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That → ’ → us
It’s not just one position.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
Disappointed, and I’m going to make sure that we look at answers and not pinpoint one position, if you will.”
asserted
you → disappoint → position
Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa stood on the sideline in street clothes, watching as Atlanta’s offense failed to reach the red zone for the second consecutive week.
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offense → stand → week
Penix has said he is close to returning from the torn ACL in his left knee that he suffered last season.
asserted
he → say → that
Tagovailoa is nursing an oblique injury.
asserted
Tagovailoa → nurse → injury
The Falcons visit Green Bay on Thursday night.
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Falcons → visit → night
Penix split reps in practice with Rush last week.
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Penix → split → Rush
Stefanski was asked if Penix would be available to start against the Packers.
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Penix → ask → Packers
“To be fair, I don’t think now’s the time to know what the plan is this exact week,” he said.
asserted
he → think → ?
“I’m really focused on this week.
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I → ’m → week
Like I’ve told you guys all along and throughout — Mike is continuing to progress, so we’ll work through that this week.”
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we → tell → that
Rush fumbled on the game’s first play from scrimmage as he was scrambling.
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he → fumble → scrimmage
He threw an interception on the Falcons’ second possession and Atlanta dropped into a 13-3 hole at halftime.
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Atlanta → throw → halftime
Rush struggled with back spasms in Atlanta’s Week 1 loss at Pittsburgh, but he said he was healthier this week.
asserted
he → struggle → Pittsburgh
“Tough start,” Rush said.
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Rush → say → start
Our defense in that first half battled their (butts) off, gave us a chance, trying to get stuff going.
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stuff → battle → chance
They played really well early on.”
asserted
They → play → ?
Strand was not the answer for the Falcons, but the Bloomer, Wisconsin, native who starred at Division II Minnesota State Moorhead appreciated his opportunity to play in the NFL.
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who → star → NFL
“There’s always some nerves going on,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
“Even in college, there’s always nerves before a game, and I think that’s a good thing.
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that → ’ → game
When I first started in college, one of our receivers asked me if I was nervous, and I was like, ‘Yeah, you know, I’m nervous going into my first start.’
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I → start → start
And he’s like, ‘Well, I’m glad you’re nervous because that means you care.’
asserted
you → ’ → ?
And so I think that’s something I’ve taken, not necessarily looking at being nervous as a bad thing.”
asserted
I → think → thing
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