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The Atlanta Falcons Signs Veteran Quarterback Andy Dalton
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- The Atlanta Falcons Signs Veteran Quarterback Andy Dalton
After a rough start to the season, driven by backup quarterback play and an injury scare involving Michael Penix Jr. , the Atlanta Falcons signed veteran quarterback Andy Dalton .
Dalton joins a quarterback room that includes Young Penix Jr., veteran Tua Tagovailoa , and rookie Jack Strand , replacing Cooper Rush as the third quarterback on the depth chart. Rush was released after two lackluster starts, both ending in losses.
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The Philadelphia Eagles —who have quarterback issues of their own—released him, allowing the Falcons to upgrade their quarterback room.
Dalton adds another formally successful starting quarterback for Penix Jr. to potentially learn from. The former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback backed up Bryce Young in Carolina during his development. Young is looking like a potential MVP candidate currently, after a few seasons of growth and development.
Before Young was seen as one of the quarterbacks of the future, he was benched for Dalton in Carolina as he worked through struggles. With the Falcons offense stuck in a feast-or-famine cycle, Dalton could allow the Falcons to give Penix Jr. a chance to watch the game from the sideline in an attempt to grow.
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Dalton is in Atlanta in no way to replace Penix Jr., but he seems to be a bit of security for a team with question marks at backup quarterback.
Penix Jr. took a hard hit to the midsection against the Ravens after a missed block, creating the need for a backup to play. When Tagovailoa entered the game against the Ravens, the opposing secondary became visibly excited on the sideline. They were adamant that their best chance at an interception just entered the game.
And they were right.
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The injury scare and the Tagovailoa game-ending interception may have pushed this team to look for better options if Penix Jr. can't play, or can't play well.
It would be in the Falcons' best interest to not have to use any of their backup quarterbacks, allowing Penix Jr. to grow into the franchise role. Only time will tell if we'll see Dalton on the field.
This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
