Falcons join the four-quarterback club
The Falcons have joined the four-quarterback club, keeping Michael Penix Jr, Cooper Rush, Jack Strand, and Tua Tagovailoa on the initial roster
RB · KC · 24 yrs · exp 1 · Michigan State
From latest snapshot · trend vs ~7d prior when data allows.
One snapshot point per calendar day (shown in your timezone).
Latest: Sep 5, 2026 · 462
Stories linked to this player — newest first.
The Falcons have joined the four-quarterback club, keeping Michael Penix Jr, Cooper Rush, Jack Strand, and Tua Tagovailoa on the initial roster
The Falcons have signed running back Trey Sermon to their 90-man roster, adding competition behind starter Bijan Robinson. Sermon has previously played for the 49ers, Eagles, Colts, and Steelers, accumulating 319 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 46 career games
Nathan Carter is set to compete for the Atlanta Falcons' RB3 role again this summer. He faces competition from other backs, including Tyler Goodson and Cash Jones, and is not expected to be a fantasy factor unless injuries create an opportunity
Carter will compete with Tyler Goodson and Cash Jones for the Falcons' No. 3 running back spot during training camp, Will McFadden of the team's official site reports. Carter handled a depth role last season, rushing nine times for 60 yards across seven regular-season appearances while also playing 49 snaps on special teams. Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr. are locked into the top two backfield roles, so Carter's path to the roster depends on how much special-teams value he's able to demonstrate, as well as holding off Goodson and Jones. Even if he wins the No. 3 job, Carter won't have a path to fantasy relevance as long as Atlanta's top two running backs remain on the field
While we twiddle our thumbs, tap our feet impatiently, and sigh deeply during the long wait for training camp, we can still talk about training camp. And we will. Let’s start by talking about some of the true roster battles for the 2026 Falcons, rather than those guys duking it out for a starting job. I’m focused on the spots down the depth chart that could be become vital in a pinch and have plenty of players competing for them, from swing tackle to fifth wide receiver and a few in between. We’ll get into the battles for starting jobs in more detail a little later this summer. Is Jack Strand vs. Trevor Siemian an actual battle? Siemian has gone from occasional starter to third quarterback type over the years, with a fairly successful run in 2021 with the hated Saints giving way to uninspiring stints with the Bears and Jets. He last appeared in an NFL regular season game in 2023, and is entering his age 35 season. For all that, he has 33 career starts, 40 games of experience, and 44 touchdowns against 32 interceptions, and his tenure and experience commanding an NFL offense will likely make him the favorite for third quarterback duties given that Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. both have injury concerns. Strand is probably a practice squad stash, but he does have the live arm and intrigue to make it interesting if he has a strong summer. He was an uber-productive Division II quarterback who has thrown the ball well at camp, and his age and affordability make him a fun developmental option for QB3 and (maybe eventually) QB2 down the line. With a strong enough summer, he could knock Siemian out, given that the Falcons will only owe $1.3 million to the veteran. With Carlos Washington cut, you’re looking at Nate Carter , Tyler Goodson , and rookie Cash Jones for this spot. Carter has the advantage of a year in Atlanta, pretty impressive speed, and some experience on special teams. He had nine carries for 60 yards, highlighted by a 12 yard run, in garbage time in 2025. If the Falcons are looking for long speed and good burst in their third spot, Carter can carve it out, providing he shows well as a pass catcher and blocker over the summer. Goodson is easily the most experienced candidate for this job, and that and his versatility might make him the favorite. He was a decent runner—albeit on the smaller side—in Indianapolis , and supplemented that with quality kick return skills and good enough hands to be used as a weapon out of the backfield at times. Over the past two seasons, he logged heavy usage on Indy’s special teams and has appeared in 33 games, and the ability to do a little bit of everything is an important ability down the depth chart. Jones is a rookie out of Georgia who seems to be more likely to carve out a long-term role at receiver, where the team is putting him through the paces early on. But Jones has experience as a runner from college and is an elusive player who can be very dangerous with the ball in his hands, and serving as a sort of RB3/WR6 or WR7 hybrid would give him additional appeal for Atlanta. His pass catching ability, shiftiness, and potential versatility should at least keep him in this competition. You have Drake London , Jahan Dotson , Zachariah Branch, and Olamide Zaccheaus set to take the top four spots on the depth chart. Beyond that, very little is certain. Familiar faces like Chris Blair and Dylan Drummond , both annual summer standouts, are certainly in the mix. Undrafted free agents Keelan Marion, Vinny Anthony, and Le’Meke Brockington have a shot to impress. Recent UFL signing Antwane “Juice” Wells is a new addition to the group, as well, one who adds physicality and ruggedness to a team that could use more of both, especially with Dotson, Branch, and OZ all running on the smaller side. But with a new coaching staff, it’s hard to name a favorite here. Blair is a player I think deserves more of a real shot to prove himself—mostly because he’s looked really strong in camp and [... truncated ...]
Carter had just nine carries for 60 yards and wasn't targeted while appearing in seven games as a rookie in 2025 after a strong preseason earned the undrafted running back out of Michigan State a roster spot with the Falcons. Tyler Allgeier is no longer in Atlanta, but the Falcons signed Brian Robinson to replace him as Bijan Robinson's primary backup, leaving Carter to battle for a roster spot against Tyler Goodson and Cash Jones
Adds: Nathan Carter. Drops: Erick All
Adds: Nathan Carter. Drops: DJ Giddens
Adds: Nathan Carter. Drops: Trey Lance
Adds: Nathan Carter. Drops: Andrei Iosivas
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.