Falcons Week 6 Inactives: Penix Cleared, But Secondary Takes a Massive Hit
Marc Raimondi reported the official inactive list on Twitter.
The just dropped their Week 6 inactive list, and it is a masterclass in reading between the lines. Marc Raimondi reported the official scratches, which include Malcolm DeWalt IV, Christian Harris, Ethan Onianwa, and Drake Jackson, but the biggest takeaway is actually about a guy who avoided the list entirely.
Cooper Rush is officially wearing the emergency third quarterback hat today, while rookie Jack Strand is joining him in street clothes. That tells you everything you need to know about and his rib cage.
Penix took an absolute beating late in last week's 30-23 loss to the . Putting Rush in the glass-break-in-case-of-emergency role means the medical staff cleared Penix to take the snaps against the , which is great news for anyone who enjoys forward passes.
But the real gut punch on this list is cornerback C.J. Henderson. When A.J. Terrell went on injured reserve with a groin injury, the secondary looked like a disaster waiting to happen. Instead, Henderson stepped in and played out of his mind.
Just two weeks ago against the , Henderson racked up 10 tackles, forced a fumble, and recovered it. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was literally begging opposing quarterbacks to target him. Going from that level of production to street clothes is a brutal swing for a defense trying to keep its head above water.
If you are staring at the prop market for 's wide receivers today, Henderson being out is the exact type of roster math that ruins a defensive game plan. You cannot just replace a guy who was playing like a true top corner with practice squad vibes and hope for the best.
needs Penix to survive four quarters and the secondary to hold together with duct tape. If the Bears come in and torch this depleted defensive backfield, the panic meter in Mercedes-Benz Stadium is going to snap completely off the dial.