Falcons Drop Week 4 Inactives: Cooper Rush Gets the Emergency Glass Case

The Atlanta Falcons have officially dropped their Week 4 inactives list ahead of their divisional clash with the New Orleans Saints, and the names are exactly what you expect from a team trying to keep its core intact. ESPN's Marc Raimondi reported the final scratch list, which is heavy on depth and light on panic.

Quarterback Jack Strand, defensive backs Malcom Dewalt IV and Roger Longerbeam, defensive end Jared Ivey, and offensive lineman Ethan Onianwa will all be watching this one in street clothes.

"Marc Raimondi reported the official list, noting Cooper Rush's specific designation as the emergency third quarterback."

The most notable designation goes to veteran signal-caller Cooper Rush, who is officially dressing as the designated emergency third quarterback.

The NFL's emergency third quarterback rule is basically the football equivalent of keeping a fire extinguisher under the kitchen sink. You are glad it is there, but if you actually have to use Cooper Rush in that specific capacity, your offensive game plan has already burned to the ground.

From a betting perspective, this is the exact kind of inactive list you want to see before kickoff. There are no surprise star absences or late-week hamstring flare-ups to send the point spread into a tailspin. The market is not going to move because Ethan Onianwa is sitting this one out.

Atlanta heads into New Orleans with their primary rotation fully operational. Now they just have to prove they can handle business on the road without needing to break the glass on their emergency quarterback.