Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Monday that Schaub will retire from professional football, Jason Butt of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

EDGE Analysis

After playing in a lone game with the Falcons during the 2020 season, Schaub will call an end to his 16-year NFL career. The 39-year-old began his career in 2004 in Atlanta as a backup to Michael Vick before being traded to the Texans in 2007, when he received his first opportunity to become a full-time starter. He went on to earn two Pro Bowl nods with the Texans, then moved on to the Raiders and Ravens for one year apiece before returning to Atlanta and spending the past five seasons as Matt Ryan's understudy. Schaub concludes his career with 25,467 passing yards, 136 touchdowns and 91 interceptions to go with four scores on the ground.

Schaub has secured a spot on the Falcons' 53-man roster as he enters his fifth season as Matt Ryan's backup, Jason Butt of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 39-year-old signal-caller reportedly showed signs of rust during the early stages of an atypical offseason program, but he ultimately rounded into form and demonstrated enough to return for another year as the No. 2 quarterback. In beating out Kurt Benkert for the role, Schaub seems likelier yet to close out his NFL career in the same place it began in 2004. Schaub showed during 2019 that he still can deliver despite 15-plus years of NFL tread on the tires. When called upon for a spot start Week 8 against Seattle as Ryan sat out with an ankle injury, he completed 75 percent of his passes while throwing for 460 yards.

Schaub played well during the Falcons' intra-squad scrimmage Friday after struggling through parts of training camp to that point, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

EDGE Analysis

Schaub was reported to be on the roster bubble earlier in the week, but his performance in the team's dress rehearsal bodes well for his chances of remaining on the team. The 39-year-old connected on a 76-yard touchdown pass with Juwan Green during the scrimmage's second half. Earlier on in the contest, he found rookie receiver Jalen McCleskey for a third-down touchdown inside the red zone. Third-string quarterback Kurt Benkert was seemingly not as effective, as one of his series led to a punt, while Blidi Wreh-Wilson intercepted Benkert to put an end to another drive.

Schaub has gotten out to a shaky start to training camp and has been "frequently throwing behind receivers," D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

EDGE Analysis

Atlanta elected to pick up Schaub's $2 million option in February, but Ledbetter reports that the veteran's performance has been so off to this point in camp, that the team may be forced to look at another second-string option. Schaub's rust may be the result of a slow ramp up to full-contact practices, but the team does have a cheaper, albeit largely unproven alternative at its disposal in the 25-year-old Kurt Benkert. Moving to Benkert as the backup prematurely could prove to be ill advised, however, as Schaub was capable of throwing for 460 yards and a touchdown against Seattle during his lone start of 2019.

Schaub is expected to have his $2 million option picked up by the Falcons, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 38-year-old signal-caller logged his first Falcons start since 2005 when he took the ball Week 8 against Seattle, with Matt Ryan sitting out due to an ankle injury. In Ryan's relief that day Schaub put up 460 yards passing and completed 26 of 31 pass attempts in the second half as Atlanta rebounded from a 24-0 deficit to lose by just seven points, 27-20. Still capable of keeping his team competitive despite having 16 years of NFL tread on his tires, Schaub is expected to remain in the Atlanta QB room for 2020.

Schaub completed 50 of 67 pass attempts for 580 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in six appearances -- including one start -- during the 2019 season.

EDGE Analysis

The 38-year-old signal-caller threw a first-half interception and saw his team fall into a 24-0 hole, but led the Falcons back to within striking distance before eventually absorbing a 27-20 loss to Seattle during his lone start of 2019. Schaub had a nightmarish preseason debut in the Hall of Fame Game against Denver Aug. 1, but rebounded nicely over the remainder of the exhibition slate and threw to a 3:1 TD:INT and impressive 74.6 percent completion rate during the regular season. He's under contract for one more season, as third-year quarterback Kurt Benkert looks to give him competition for the backup job in 2020.

Schaub completed five of nine pass attempts for 55 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 35-22 loss to the Buccaneers.

EDGE Analysis

The wily veteran hooked up with Calvin Ridley for a touchdown in the final two minutes of regulation, providing a cushion to the box score and delaying the inevitable defeat momentarily. Schaub came in off the bench after Matt Ryan was sacked and stripped on the preceding drive, providing Tampa Bay with a defensive touchdown to put the game out of reach at the 3:06 mark of the fourth quarter. With Ryan set to get the starting nod for Atlanta's Thanksgiving showdown against New Orleans, Schaub will revert to his backup role in Week 13.

Schaub completed 39 of 52 pass attempts for 460 yards, while throwing one touchdown, committing an interception and losing a fumble during Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Seahawks.

EDGE Analysis

After a nightmarish first 30 minutes of play the 38-year-old signal-caller looked like a different man in the second half, completing an absurd 26 of 31 pass attempts for 309 yards, while getting Atlanta to within a touchdown in the waning moments after facing a 24-0 halftime deficit. It's likely that Matt Ryan (ankle) will be recovered in time for Atlanta's Nov. 10 matchup against New Orleans given that he was considered questionable entering Week 8. If Ryan is surprisingly unable to go, however, Schaub would log his second start since 2015 with the Falcons going up against New Orleans' top-15 pass defense.

Schaub will start Sunday's contest against the Seahawks after Matt Ryan (ankle) was ruled out Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Schaub has attempted just 16 passes in the last four seasons backing up Matt Ryan in Atlanta, but the 38-year-old looked sharp in last week's relief of the 2008 No. 1 overall pick, completing all six of his passes for 65 yards and a touchdown against a Rams' defense that admittedly was playing with a substantial lead. The Falcons figure to rely heavily on the running game in order to take pressure off Schaub, but considering running back Devonta Freeman is averaging 3.5 yards-per-carry through seven games, it's entirely likely the veteran will be forced to move the ball through the air at some point throughout the contest.

Schaub has been working with the first-team offense during the Falcons' first two practices of Week 8 in preparation for starting Sunday's game against the Seahawks, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matt Ryan was sidelined for practices Wednesday and Thursday after suffering a right high-ankle sprain in last weekend's loss to the Rams, putting his streak of 154 consecutive starts in major jeopardy. The 38-year-old Schaub is one of the NFL's more experienced backups, but before replacing Ryan late in the Week 7 game, he hadn't seen any meaningful regular-season action since 2015. More clarity on Ryan's status for Sunday's game should come following Friday's practice, but if Schaub is pressed into the starting role, Atlanta would presumably lean on a more ground-oriented attack if the game script allows for it.