The Atlanta Falcons are in a deep hole after losing 34-3 to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. This blowout happened because the team ran out of options at the most important position in sports. Cooper Rush started the game and fumbled on the very first play from scrimmage.
He finished the afternoon with just 86 passing yards and two interceptions before getting benched. The team then turned to undrafted rookie Jack Strand, who threw an interception on his first pass attempt for a pick-six. In their opening two games of the season, the Falcons managed just three points.
A Simple Fix Ignored
Robert Griffin III says the team is making a huge mistake by not calling available veterans. He took to social media on Sunday to call out the front office for letting this situation spiral out of control. Griffin wrote that it makes zero sense to watch young players struggle when experienced men are ready to help. He specifically listed Cam Newton, Jimmy Garoppolo, Ryan Tannehill, and himself as the answer to this crisis. These players have the experience to stabilize a locker room that is currently falling apart.
Griffin noted that these men were even playing for Carolina earlier that same day. The logic is hard to argue against when you look at the stats from Sunday. Rush went 10-of-17 passing with no touchdowns. Strand went 8-of-15 for 59 yards with a lost fumble. The team has no time to wait for Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa to get healthy if they want to beat the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football. Per Yahoo Sports, Griffin believes these veterans could provide the stability the current roster lacks.
Who Is Actually Available?
Not every name on Griffin’s list is a realistic target, but some are very much in play. Jimmy Garoppolo is the most interesting option because he played recently for the Los Angeles Rams. He was backing up Matthew Stafford before the season started and did not sign with a new team.
The public does not know if he wants to keep playing, but he is clearly the best quarterback on the list. Cam Newton has been absent for roughly five years, while Ryan Tannehill has stayed out of the league for some time. Both men have talked about suiting up for Atlanta during this chaos, but their time away makes them risky bets.
Griffin himself was the No. 2 overall pick in 2012 and looked like a star in Washington before injuries derailed his career. He has been out of the game since 2020. Returning to football after such an extended hiatus is a significant challenge, even if his reasoning fits a struggling team. The Falcons need a solution that works right now, not a long-term project. The current options of Rush and Strand have clearly failed to get the job done.
Time Is Running Out
The team has little time to prepare for the game in Green Bay. Should Tagovailoa and Penix both remain unready to play, the Falcons need to take action. Their choices include keeping current options or searching the free-agent market for an experienced player. The decision comes down to whether the coaching staff trusts the rookie or the available veterans. The team is hoping things will naturally get better soon, but the clock is ticking fast.
