Training camp opened with an unexpected turn of events for the Atlanta Falcons as undrafted rookie quarterback Nbcsports found himself running the first-team offense. According to AJC.com, the 22-year-old signal-caller took the majority of snaps with the first-team offense to begin camp at IBM Performance Field in Atlanta. The developments unfolded after Falcons quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt informed Strand the night before the first training camp practice that the team would be short-handed.
Undrafted Rookie Jack Strand Thrust Into First-Team Reps at Falcons Camp
The unusual depth chart situation arose because the team’s top quarterbacks were unavailable for full-team activities. As inforum.com reported, Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined due to a tight back, while Michael Penix Jr. was not yet cleared for team drills. Penix is currently working his way back from a torn left ACL suffered in Week 11 of the 2025 season, which marked his third torn ACL following two injuries in college. Additionally, the Falcons had released veteran Trevor Siemian with a non-football injury designation, leaving Strand as the lone fully healthy quarterback on the roster capable of handling 11-on-11 drills before the team signed veteran Cooper Rush.
From Division II Record-Breaker to NFL Opportunity
Strand’s path to taking snaps with players like Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts according to Yahoo Sports marks a dramatic leap from his collegiate career. Hailing from Bloomer, Wisconsin, Strand put up record-setting numbers across 42 games at Division II Minnesota State Moorhead. He finished his career with 13,161 passing yards—ranking 10th-most in Division II history—along with 126 touchdown passes and 50 interceptions.
Despite possessing a large frame at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, Strand went unselected in the NFL draft after participating in the American Bowl and missing an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. Recognizing his traits as a smart, tough competitor, the Falcons signed him as a priority free agent with a guaranteed signing bonus of $262,500. Dragons head coach Steve Laqua noted that getting this kind of early exposure is a valuable stepping stone. It’s a great opportunity to be able to get reps and prove that he can play at that level and perform under pressure,
Laqua said.
Handling the Spotlight and Future Outlook
Strand remains grounded amid the sudden attention, telling reporters after Thursday’s practice that he is taking a minimalist approach to his unexpected promotion. I didn’t think about it too much,
Strand said, via Will McFadden of the team website. I’m coming into training camp and everything just trying to take it day by day. Keep attacking every day. Keep getting better every day, whether I’m getting a bunch of reps or I’m not getting as many reps.
The window for Strand to take first-team reps may be brief. Tagovailoa has already begun doing light throwing during individual periods, and the Falcons also added Cooper Rush to the quarterback room. The team is scheduled to play its preseason opener against the Broncos on August 14, which will provide a clearer picture of the roster’s trajectory as the evaluation process continues.
Worth a look
