Falcons release nose tackle Anthony Rush

Abdullah Anderson, Timothy Horne to get snaps at nose tackle as part of roster churn
080522 Flowery Branch, Ga.: Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Anthony Rush (94) talks with defensive tackle Ta'Quon Graham (95) during training camp at the Falcons Practice Facility, Friday, August 5, 2022, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

080522 Flowery Branch, Ga.: Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Anthony Rush (94) talks with defensive tackle Ta'Quon Graham (95) during training camp at the Falcons Practice Facility, Friday, August 5, 2022, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com)

FLOWERY BRANCH -- Nose tackle Anthony Rush, who started all four games this season, was released by the Falcons on Thursday.

Head coach Arthur Smith chose to keep specific details of the decision private, but attributed it to the NFL being a “performance business.”

The Falcons now have an open spot on the 53-man roster.

Cornerback Isaiah Oliver, who’s coming off knee surgery, returned to practice from injured reserve Wednesday.

The Falcons have 21 days to activate Oliver to the 53-man roster.

“The knee felt good,” Oliver said Wednesday. “It felt comfortable. Now, it’s just a matter of getting back into it. Obviously not having practiced for the last few weeks, kind of the biggest thing is getting back use to it. It definitely felt good today.”

Rush was listed at 6-foot-4 and 361 pounds. He played 28 snaps (46%) against New Orleans, He played 13 snaps (30%) against the Rams, 18 snaps (38%) against the Seahawks and 28 snaps (38%) against the Browns. He had seven tackle.

Without Rush, the Falcons have Abdullah Anderson and Timothy Horne to play at nose tackle.

Oliver returned to practice almost a year to the date of the injury, which he sustained against Washington on Oct. 3 last season.

Oliver is not sure if he’ll be active Sunday, when the Falcons (2-2) are set to play the Buccaneers (2-2) in an early-season battle for first place in the NFC South. He has played in 50 games and made 33 starts for the Falcons. He has played 2,159 defensive snaps and 363 on special teams.

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Atlanta Falcons 2022 NFL schedule

Sept. 11: Saints 27, Falcons 26

Sept. 18: Rams 31, Falcons 27

Sept. 25 Falcons 27, Seahawks 23

Oct. 2 Falcons 23, Browns 20

Oct. 9 at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Oct. 16 vs. San Francisco, 1 p.m.

Oct. 23 at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Oct. 30 vs. Carolina, 1 p.m.

Nov. 6 vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 1 p.m.

Nov. 10 at Carolina, 8:15 p.m.

Nov. 20 vs. Chicago, 1 p.m.

Nov. 27 at Washington, 1 p.m.

Dec. 4 vs. Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

BYE WEEK

Dec. 18 at New Orleans, TBD

Dec. 24 at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Jan. 1 vs. Arizona, 1 p.m.

Jan. 8 vs. Tampa Bay, TBD