WithTua TagovailoaandMichael Penix Jr.both ruled out, head coach Kevin Stefanski had to get creative. Since the Falcons only have two running backs on the roster, Zaccheaus will also serve as the team's third-string running back on Sunday, per Schefter.
"Cooper Rush will be Atlanta's starting quarterback today, undrafted free agent Jack Strand will be the backup, and with Tua Tagovailoa andMichael Penix Jr. both inactive, wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus will be the Falcons' emergency quarterback vs. the Steelers. But Zaccheus' role doesn't stop just there. With the Falcons also having only two running backs active today,Bijan RobinsonandBrian Robinson, Zaccheus also will be the team's emergency third-string running back." -Adam Schefter, ESPN
Rush is expected to play after suffering back spasms on Saturday. The Falcons kept four quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster, but somehow they still barely have enough to get through the first game of the season. We'll see how Rush fares in his 17th career start on Sunday.
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The game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh. Check back at 11:30 a.m. for the team's full Week 1 inactives list.
OL: Bill Fralic (2026 Class)
(Manny Rubio-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
DE: John Abraham (2026 Class)
(Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
QB Matt Ryan (2024 Class)
(Todd Kirkland, Getty Images)
Owner: Arthur Blank (2024 Class)
(Jason Getz, USA TODAY Sports)
OL: Todd McClure (2022 Class)
(Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
WR Roddy White (2019 Class)
(Jason Getz, USA TODAY Sports)
RB: Warrick Dunn (2017 Class)
(George Walker IV / The Tennessea, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
RB: Gerald Riggs (2013 Class)
(Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY Sports, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
DB: Deion Sanders (2010 Class)
(US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
DL: Claude Humphrey (2008 Class)
(Manny Rubio-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
OL: Mike Kenn (2008 Class)
(Manny Rubio-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
OL: Jeff Van Note (2006 Class)
(Manny Rubio-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
LB: Jessie Tuggle (2004 Class)
(Manny Rubio-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
LB: Tommy Nobis (2004 Class)
(Dick Raphael, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
QB: Steve Bartkowski (2004 Class)
(Manny Rubio-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
RB: William Andrews (2004 Class)
(Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY Sports, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
OL: Bill Fralic (2026 Class)
(Manny Rubio-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
OL: Bill Fralic (2026 Class)
(Manny Rubio-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
2/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
DE: John Abraham (2026 Class)
(Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
3/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
QB Matt Ryan (2024 Class)
(Todd Kirkland, Getty Images)
4/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
Owner: Arthur Blank (2024 Class)
(Jason Getz, USA TODAY Sports)
5/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
OL: Todd McClure (2022 Class)
(Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
6/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
WR Roddy White (2019 Class)
(Jason Getz, USA TODAY Sports)
7/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
RB: Warrick Dunn (2017 Class)
(George Walker IV / The Tennessea, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
8/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
RB: Gerald Riggs (2013 Class)
(Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY Sports, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
9/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
DB: Deion Sanders (2010 Class)
(US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
10/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
DL: Claude Humphrey (2008 Class)
(Manny Rubio-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
11/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
OL: Mike Kenn (2008 Class)
(Manny Rubio-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
12/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
OL: Jeff Van Note (2006 Class)
(Manny Rubio-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
13/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
LB: Jessie Tuggle (2004 Class)
(Manny Rubio-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
14/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
LB: Tommy Nobis (2004 Class)
(Dick Raphael, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
15/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
QB: Steve Bartkowski (2004 Class)
(Manny Rubio-US PRESSWIRE, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
16/16
Who are the 16 members of the Falcons Ring of Honor?
RB: William Andrews (2004 Class)
(Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY Sports, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
RB: Tyler Goodson (25)
(Robert Goddin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
CB: Darnay Holmes (30)
(Jay Biggerstaff, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
RB: Cash Jones (32)
(Dale Zanine, Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
Safey: Jammie Robinson (34)
(Mark J. Rebilas, Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
EDGE: Bralen Trice (48)
(Dale Zanine, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
OL: Kam Dewberry (61)
(Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
OL: James Brockermeyer (66)
(Jerome Miron, Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
OL: Josh Thompson (67)
(Petre Thomas, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
OL: Riley Mahlman (76)
(Kayla Wolf, Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images)
WR: Dylan Drummond (80)
(Todd Kirkland, Getty Images)
WR Antwane Wells Jr. (82)
(Yannick Peterhans, Yannick Peterhans / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
TE: Jack Velling (84)
(Sam Navarro, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
WR: Vinny Anthony II (86)
(Robert Goddin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
TE: Nick Muse (87)
(Robert Goddin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
DT: Zacch Pickens (93)
(Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)
DL: Zach Harrison (96)
(Darren Yamashita, Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)
1/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
RB: Tyler Goodson (25)
(Robert Goddin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
RB: Tyler Goodson (25)
(Robert Goddin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
2/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
CB: Darnay Holmes (30)
(Jay Biggerstaff, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
3/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
RB: Cash Jones (32)
(Dale Zanine, Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
4/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
Safey: Jammie Robinson (34)
(Mark J. Rebilas, Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
5/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
EDGE: Bralen Trice (48)
(Dale Zanine, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
6/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
OL: Kam Dewberry (61)
(Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
7/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
OL: James Brockermeyer (66)
(Jerome Miron, Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
8/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
OL: Josh Thompson (67)
(Petre Thomas, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
9/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
OL: Riley Mahlman (76)
(Kayla Wolf, Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images)
10/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
WR: Dylan Drummond (80)
(Todd Kirkland, Getty Images)
11/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
WR Antwane Wells Jr. (82)
(Yannick Peterhans, Yannick Peterhans / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
12/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
TE: Jack Velling (84)
(Sam Navarro, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
13/16
Falcons vs. Colts: Photos from Saturday's preseason game
WR: Vinny Anthony II (86)
(Robert Goddin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
14/16
Falcons vs. Colts: Photos from Saturday's preseason game
TE: Nick Muse (87)
(Robert Goddin, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
15/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
DT: Zacch Pickens (93)
(Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)
16/16
Falcons 16-man practice squad arranged by uniform number
