I Fold Before Lambeau

I fold.

Wednesday's receipt said Atlanta's Sunday starter would be its Thursday starter at Lambeau. Cooper Rush started Sunday. He does not start Thursday, Sept 24.

Sunday was the easy evidence. A lost fumble on the first play, two interceptions, benched with 7:13 left in the third for Jack Strand, an undrafted rookie whose first NFL pass went back for a Carolina touchdown. Final, 34-3. ESPN's Marc Raimondi reported a "We want Strand" chant.

Kevin Stefanski on Thursday's starter, via Raimondi: "To be fair, I don't think now's the time to know what the plan is [for next] week." No starter named as of Sunday night.

That is not why I fold. The reason was filed before kickoff.

Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that Michael Penix Jr. could play Thursday, that he "did split reps this past week with Rush before being declared out -- a development that was in preparation for Thursday," and that "The target for a return has always been Week 3," in a report, not a club plan, filed before anyone booed.

I wrote Wednesday that nobody installs a different quarterback on a short week. Still true. The install was last week, in the reps, before Rush's name went on the release.

The counter is Penix's. Wednesday, via Josh Kendall of The Athletic: "I've got the final say because I'm the only person that knows how my body feels." Raimondi's Sunday paraphrase: he "has said he is not quite ready yet for live game action." Rush's best sentence on the record is a paraphrase.

The receipt has an exit I never printed: moot if the Sunday starter is hurt. Raimondi has Rush "dealing with back spasms." I am not taking it. Anyone but Rush takes the first snap at Lambeau, grade it wrong, back or no back.

If Rush takes it, I folded a live hand. You will not have to remind me.