FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Falcons find themselves turning the page on joint practices in Miami and moving forward toward their second preseason game of 2024 in Baltimore on Saturday at noon.
There were a lot of developments – both wanted and unwanted – that came to pass over the last week, with players moving up the depth chart and others falling off with season-ending injuries.
Tori McElhaney evaluates where the roster currently stands as Week 2 of the preseason gets underway. Here is an early look at one potential 53-man roster for the Falcons with two games left to go.
OFFENSE
Quarterback (3)
Kirk Cousins | Michael Penix Jr. | Taylor Heinicke
I still see the value in keeping Heinicke on the initial 53-man roster. I know some don't agree with this take, but hear me out. Heinicke is an experienced veteran who has played meaningful snaps in this league. He's been in multiple systems and seen action in big moments. That could be valuable to other teams as much as it is to the Falcons.
We saw how many starting – and backup – quarterbacks went down last year. We saw the success of a few off-the-street quarterbacks. Heinicke could act as a security blanket for the team, in – let's just say – Week 10 if they find themselves in a quarterback bind.
From a business standpoint, keeping Heinicke around could provide you with means later on, even if he's only an emergency third quarterback in the interim. And from a cost standpoint? It's a little wishy-washy either way, considering his dead money hit is $3.32 million while his cap savings is $1.21 million, according to OverTheCap.com.
Running back (4)
Bijan Robinson | Tyler Allgeier | Jase McClellan | Avery Williams
I don't think this is the end for Carlos Washington. Though I don't have him on the initial 53-man roster, he is absolutely someone I believe the Falcons should try to keep around. I see him carving out a nice practice squad role. That is, if he doesn't get snatched up before then. A productive preseason could land him on some other teams' radar...
Wide receiver (5)
Drake London | Darnell Mooney | Ray-Ray McCloud | KhaDarel Hodge | Casey Washington
I could have manipulated the numbers a bit to carry six receivers instead of five. And if Rondale Moore was still available, I probably would have. However, seeing as he's not, I couldn't find it within myself to keep any more, especially knowing the role other players like Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, Charlie Woerner and even Tyler Allgeier could play in the pass game.
That's not to say the Falcons won't keep six wide receivers. I just liked having that extra number elsewhere for the time being.
Tight end (4)
Kyle Pitts | Charlie Woerner | Ross Dwelley | John FitzPatrick
The trio of Woerner, Dwelley and FitzPatrick has been an interesting one to view this preseason. It's obvious that Pitts and Woerner are the proverbial leaders in the clubhouse, but Dwelley's and FitzPatrick's work throughout training camp has been consistent enough that keeping these four was an easy decision.
Offensive line (8)
Jake Matthews | Matthew Bergeron | Drew Dalman | Chris Lindstrom | Kaleb McGary | Storm Norton | Kyle Hinton | Ryan Neuzil
I would argue there is no other offensive line in the league that has the continuity this group does from one year to the next. The entire starting five from 2023 returns, as do key depth pieces like Norton at tackle, Hinton at guard and Neuzil at center – all three of whom have positional versatility. I feel pretty secure with these eight big men.
DEFENSE
Defensive line (8)
Grady Jarrett | David Onyemata | Ta'Quon Graham | Zach Harrison | Ruke Orhorhoro | Brandon Dorlus | Eddie Goldman | Kentavius Street
Despite the inability to fully tackle in training camp and joint practices, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching this group work. And each of these eight individuals have stood out to me at one point or another over the last month.
There's a nice mix of young and old, veteran and rookie status, in this group. I think that's what makes it so intriguing. You have players coming back from injuries; a player who has bulked up to even play on the defensive line at all; a player returning after years away from the game; and young guys looking to make a name for themselves. This position group has a little bit of everything.
Outside linebacker (4)
Lorenzo Carter | Arnold Ebiketie | James Smith-Williams | Demone Harris
The loss of Bralen Trice to a season-ending knee injury was quite the blow to the Falcons' outside linebacker group, but it does open the door for someone like Demone Harris to make this 53-man roster. Other players I also considered for the fourth outside linebacker spot were Bradlee Anae, who's gotten in on the first-team rotation in recent days, along with DeAngelo Malone, who showed out on special teams in the Falcons' first preseason game. Perhaps these two make a push in the final weeks of the preseason, or – what's more – maybe the Falcons go out and find someone else entirely to help off the edge.
Inside linebacker (4)
Kaden Elliss | Troy Andersen | Nate Landman | JD Bertrand
Bringing these four along was the easiest decision on this entire roster. I don't even feel the need to elaborate here.
Cornerback (6)
A.J. Terrell | Mike Hughes | Dee Alford | Clark Phillips III | Kevin King | Antonio Hamilton Sr.
If inside linebackers was the easiest position group to cut down, cornerbacks was one of the more difficult. And it was difficult entirely because of one name: Anthony Johnson. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Johnson's physical play this camp. I think he's had a really, really solid preseason. One that I absolutely could see culminating in a spot on the 53-man. However, when everything was said and done, I just couldn't pull the trigger. I needed spots in the trenches, and Hamilton has too much position flexibility to keep him off the roster.
That's the justification I am going with right now to make myself feel better.
Safety (4)
Jessie Bates III | Richie Grant | *DeMarcco Hellams | Micah Abernathy
There's an asterisk (*) beside Hellams' name because his status is a bit up in the air right now as I type this article out at 6 p.m. on Monday night. Head coach Raheem Morris said Monday morning that the Falcons are expecting Hellams to miss a significant amount of time with an ankle injury. However, he has not been placed on injured reserve. Not yet anyways.
It could be a situation where the Falcons keep him on the 53-man roster and then immediately place him on injured reserve thereafter, which would allow him to eventually return later in the year unlike placement on IR before cutdowns. There has been no official mention of Hellams' injury being season-ending, but it'll definitely have repercussions on the 53-man roster at some point. Hence the asterisk.
My prediction here is that the Falcons ultimately end up signing a safety who is not currently on the roster to take Hellams' vacated spot. Who that is, well, I can only speculate.
SPECIALISTS (3)
Kicker: Younghoe Koo | Punter: Bradley Pinion | Long snapper: Liam McCullough
Remember how I said the inside linebacker position was the easiest to pick? I take it back. That title belongs to the specialists.
