The Atlanta Falcons have signed veteran quarterback Andy Dalton and released Cooper Rush in a corresponding roster move, according to multiple reports on Monday, October 19, 2026.
Sources including ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirmed the transaction. Dalton, most recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, arrives as experienced depth for a 2-4 Falcons team that has navigated injuries and inconsistent play at the position.
Atlanta Falcons Sign Veteran Andy Dalton Over Quarterback Situation
Atlanta has carried four quarterbacks for much of the season: starter Michael Penix Jr., Tua Tagovailoa, Rush, and undrafted rookie Jack Strand. Penix has dealt with injury issues, including recovery from a prior ACL injury and a recent rib issue, while Tagovailoa missed early time with an oblique injury.
Rush started the first two games while the others were sidelined. He completed 22 of 39 passes for 229 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions in losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers. The Falcons scored a combined 16 points in those contests.
Penix has since taken over as the clear starter. He returned for Sunday’s 31-23 loss to the Chicago Bears and said he came through the game healthy. Tagovailoa saw action in Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens and threw a game-ending interception in overtime.
The expected depth chart places Penix as QB1, Tagovailoa as QB2, Dalton as QB3, and Strand as QB4. Some reports suggest Dalton could compete with Tagovailoa for the primary backup role given both players’ injury histories.
Andy Dalton’s Path to Atlanta
The 38-year-old Dalton is in his 16th NFL season and has started 169 games. A three-time Pro Bowl selection (2011, 2014, 2016) during his long tenure as the Cincinnati Bengals’ starter from 2011 to 2019, he has career totals of 39,793 passing yards, 254 touchdowns, and 152 interceptions (62.6% completion rate) across stints with the Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, and Eagles.
Dalton began 2026 with the Eagles after a trade from the Panthers. He appeared in one game, throwing an interception on his only pass attempt while filling in briefly for Jalen Hurts. The Eagles released him on October 9. When Hurts later went on injured reserve with a blood clot issue, Philadelphia reportedly offered Dalton a return, but he declined and chose Atlanta instead.
With the Panthers from 2023 to 2025, he started seven games and showed solid efficiency in limited action, including a 67.6% completion rate on 37 attempts for 293 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in 2025.
Why Release Cooper Rush?
Rush, a former Cowboys backup who also played for the Ravens in 2025, signed with Atlanta in July amid early-season injury concerns for Penix and Tagovailoa. His early starts were ineffective, and once the other quarterbacks returned, his role diminished to emergency depth. Cutting him to free a 53-man roster spot for Dalton was widely viewed as the logical move, as Tagovailoa remains the preferred backup and Strand offers longer-term developmental upside.
Outlook
For a Falcons team sitting second in a tight NFC South race (behind the 3-2 Panthers), the addition provides insurance. Penix has shown promise when healthy, but the team’s three losses this season have come in games he did not finish. Dalton brings a proven, if no longer elite, arm and extensive experience operating NFL offenses as a reliable veteran presence.
Atlanta next faces the undefeated San Francisco 49ers at home on October 25. Whether Dalton sees the field will depend on the health of those ahead of him on the depth chart.