INDIANAPOLIS — Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Jack Strand took advantage of perhaps their last opportunity to shine this season.
They’re about to be upstaged by the return of Michael Penix Jr.
Rush, who was signed last month, and Strand, an undrafted rookie, completed 16 of their first 17 throws while leading the Falcons to scores on five of their first six possessions in a 34-6 exhibition rout of the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, snapping Atlanta’s eight-game preseason losing streak.
After the game, Atlanta first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski said Penix, who started nine games last season as a second-year pro before suffering a season-ending knee injury, would return to team drills Monday.
“He is cleared for 11-on-11,” Stefanski said. “He’ll practice Monday in team periods.”
Penix’s return should be closely watched by Falcons fans after offseason acquisition Tua Tagovailoa struggled in joint practice sessions with the Colts this week as well as last week’s preseason opener, a blowout loss to the Denver Broncos at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
A top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Penix has been participating in position group work and seven-on-seven drills. On Thursday, he told reporters he would be talking with his doctor “soon” to determine his next step as he continues recovering from the third torn ACL of his college and pro career.
Meanwhile, with Tagovailoa and other starters sitting Saturday after two tough joint practices with Indiana, Rush and Strand were sharp for the Falcons.
Rush was 10-of-11 passing for 86 yards. Strand relieved him and was 12-of-17 for 212 yards and a touchdown.
With both teams resting most of their regulars, Atlanta outgained Indianapolis 461-164 in total offense while rushing for 164 yards. The Falcons allowed just nine first downs, and the Colts finished with eight penalties for 70 yards.
“I thought the offensive staff did a terrific job of thinking about how can we get this guy the ball or how can we hand it to him this way,” Stefanski said. “I thought Jack continued to take the practice field to the game field, and I thought Cooper really made good decisions.”
Meanwhile, the Colts still have questions at backup quarterback.
Riley Leonard played the first half and went 7-of-14 with 62 yards while facing heavy pressure, though he did lead the Colts on the drives that produced their only points, with those coming via two field goals.
Anthony Richardson, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2023, played the second half and was 3-of-9 for 24 yards while taking two sacks. He started the Colts’ preseason opener and threw an interception and lost a fumble in the first half.
Leonard and Richardson combined to convert just one of 11 third-down chances Saturday.
“It’s still ongoing,” coach Shane Steichen about the competition to become the first option behind Daniel Jones. “We’ve got a lot of belief and faith in both of those guys, so we’ll keep that going.”
Jones, who is coming back from a broken bone in his left leg and a torn right Achilles tendon, is one of many Colts who have not yet played in the preseason. Steichen has said he expects to play his starters in next week’s preseason finale.
Tyler Goodson, a former Indianapolis player, ran for a 49-yard touchdown to make it 10-3. After Spencer Shrader’s second field goal for Indianapolis, Nathan Carter ran for a 1-yard touchdown and Strand connected with Cash for a 13-yard score to put Atlanta on top 24-6 entering halftime.
Strand scrambled for a 16-yard touchdown on the opening possession of the third quarter, and the Falcons closed out the scoring with Nick Folk’s 50-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth.
Goodson finished with six carries for 59 yards.
The Colts’ kicking competition hasn’t been settled. Shrader started strong last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Blake Grupe was signed late in the season and performed well.
Grupe appeared to have the edge before the preseason, but that gap may have narrowed Saturday. Shrader made kicks of 48 and 53 yards, and Grupe missed a 38-yarder wide right.
“I think that’s ongoing, but both those guys are starting kickers in this league,” Steichen said. “So it’s going to be a big decision for us.”
The Falcons will close out the preseason Friday night against the host Miami Dolphins, the team Tagovailoa played for the past six years after being drafted fifth overall in 2020.