The Falcons are rolling with wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus as their emergency quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Steelers. This isn’t a drill, people; it’s a wild, last-ditch plan from Atlanta that screams trouble for their season opener.
Injury Mayhem in Atlanta
Atlanta’s quarterback room is a mess right now. Cooper Rush is set to start, but that’s only because Tua Tagovailoa was scratched from the lineup due to an oblique injury he picked up in practice this week. And it gets worse: Michael Penix is inactive, still working his way back from a torn ACL from last year. That leaves undrafted rookie Jack Strand as the backup, and the prospect of him playing is very real after Rush suffered back spasms on Saturday.
WR to QB? And RB, Too?!
Enter Zaccheaus. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports the Falcons are putting a wide receiver in the emergency QB spot. Zaccheaus has literally never thrown a pass in the NFL, though he does have nine career rushing attempts. In an even crazier twist, Schefter adds that Zaccheaus will also be third on the running back depth chart, behind Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson. If Zaccheaus ends up seeing time at either quarterback or running back, it’s probably not a good sign for the Falcons’ chances of opening the season with a win against the Steelers. Yikes.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
Leave a Reply