# Scott Kennedy: Previewing the Falcons' preseason opener, Kennedy lays out the quarterback pecking order behind starter Tua Tagovailoa — Cooper Rush second and undrafted rookie Jack Strand third — and states Jake Bailey will be Atlanta's punter this season. **Claimed:** Aug 12, 2026 **Pundit:** Scott Kennedy — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/scott-kennedy **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/falcons/onsi/falcons-name-qb-plan-vs-broncos-5-key-observations-from-final-practice 3 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. Of the 2 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room on every one. > Cooper Rush will be the next man up after Tagovailoa's game is finished. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Jake Bailey to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jake Bailey, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: not settled yet - **Cooper Rush to be 2nd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Cooper Rush, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: not settled yet - **Jack Strand to be 3rd on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Jack Strand, Atlanta Falcons - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Jake Bailey — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jake-bailey - Atlanta Falcons — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/falcons - Cooper Rush — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cooper-rush - Jack Strand — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jack-strand ## What others said about the same people - Steve Kubitza on Za'Darius Smith: Kubitza suggests that Kevin Stefanski's Falcons may lure veteran pass rusher Za'Darius Smith away from Cleveland, signing him in Atlanta instead of the Browns. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/54fca826-8644-4e76-bc3f-5d8d44bcca23 (scored 100) - Fox Sports on Michael Penix Jr.: Fox Sports states that a healthy Tua Tagovailoa will serve as Atlanta's backup quarterback in Week 3, with Michael Penix Jr. handling the starting duties against Green Bay. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/a90e69a8-707f-43e9-a63e-cdb3e7bd0829 (scored 100) - Tyler Sullivan on Jack Strand: In a rookie quarterback report card following the 2026 preseason, CBS Sports projects Fernando Mendoza opening the year as Kirk Cousins' backup in Las Vegas, Luke Altmyer settling as the Lions' third quarterback behind Joshua Dobbs, and Jack Strand most likely landing on Atlanta's practice squad rather than the 53-man roster. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d84e8921-bcc5-4864-a4b8-1b0562c2c10c (scored 0) - Carter Bahns on Cooper Rush: A CBS Sports piece names 20 notable veterans it considers at risk of being cut before the 53-man roster deadline, with several pegged for the practice squad or outright release, and also sketches a few depth-chart pecking orders (Titans QBs, Panthers tight ends, Texans receivers, Eagles backfield). — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/94f49c83-2307-4f25-b10c-b1cba9df5dbc (scored 0) - Jim Moorman on Zachariah Branch: Moorman names five undervalued wide receivers to target relative to their current ADP: Jaylen Waddle, Josh Downs, Wan'Dale Robinson, Jayden Higgins and Zachariah Branch, projecting bigger roles and better finishes than their draft prices suggest. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/744f8eca-c77d-49fe-badc-1410b6f10d92 (scored 0) - Pete Prisco on Atlanta Falcons: Prisco picks four road/home winners with exact scores: Falcons over Panthers, Bears over Vikings, Jaguars upsetting Broncos, Chargers over Raiders, and Cowboys over Commanders. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/49ffcfc9-5f68-4882-a86f-b835b925412d (scored 0) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Garrett Podell on Case Keenum: Podell ranks all 32 current NFL starting quarterbacks entering Week 3 of the 2026 season, with Josh Allen first, Patrick Mahomes second and Case Keenum last. He also expects Kyler Murray and Michael Penix Jr. to return to action in Week 3 and Case Keenum to possibly start for the Bears. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0e92b59e-0dd1-43c3-80c1-6551a8b641ac (scored 100) - Fox Sports on Case Keenum: A roundup of NFC injury news expects Jameis Winston to start for the Giants in any games Jaxson Dart misses, and suggests third-stringer Case Keenum could end up starting for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3 with both Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent sidelined. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3aff6d9f-b997-480e-b323-740b6a4677ed (scored 100) - Fox Sports on Case Keenum: With Caleb Williams injured and Tyson Bagent in concussion protocol, third-string quarterback Case Keenum is expected to start for the Bears against the Eagles in Week 3. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7726bb2f-b9aa-4c35-aa7b-e0b49990e867 (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Jonah Coleman: In his Week 3 waiver column, Fitzmaurice makes several depth-chart calls around injuries: Jonah Coleman leading Denver's backfield, Marcus Mariota taking over in Washington, Michael Penix Jr. starting once healthy, and Malik Washington serving as Miami's top receiver, plus availability expectations for Detroit's injured safeties. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2cbd48f6-15ea-4aa5-84bc-bcc50d94d09a (scored 0) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Aaron Jones: In previewing the 10 most intriguing fantasy performers of Week 2, Fitzmaurice expects Atlanta's quarterback problems to persist with Tua Tagovailoa unlikely to play and Michael Penix Jr. not ready to return, flags Falcons slot corner Billy Bowman Jr. as a possible Week 2 returnee, and describes Aaron Jones as Minnesota's lead back and Kaelon Black as the clear backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/31adc8bb-8f15-453f-bbcf-cab44e29b8b3 (scored 100) - Matt Severance on Deshaun Watson: The CBS Sports preview backs Tampa Bay to beat Cleveland in the Bucs' Week 2 home opener, and states that Deshaun Watson — not Shedeur Sanders — will be Cleveland's starting quarterback in Week 2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/944568ce-7205-409f-8354-a392016fd8bf (scored 100) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. 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