FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The reward didn't outweigh the risk for three key Atlanta Falcons players last week.
After two joint practices and a preseason game with the Miami Dolphins, the Falcons are down a talented trio. First, wide receiver Rondale Moore (knee) was carted out of practice last Wednesday. Then, safety DeMarcco Hellams (ankle) and outside linebacker Bralen Trice (knee) left last Friday's loss in the first half due to injuries.
Moore and Trice were placed on the Falcons’ reserve/injured list. Hellams has not but is still expected to miss what was described as a significant amount of time.
"These preseason games are tough," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "You know, we talk about them every year. This is the reason why you try to play as least amount of people as you can. ... Those things come back to bite you at times. It almost makes you not want to, but you know the cost of doing business. You've got to make those decisions, and those are heavy on you, all the time, those type of injuries."
Below is how each injury affects the ongoing position battle in Atlanta.
How Hellams' injury impacts the safety position
The simple answer here would be committing to starting Richie Grant alongside Jessie Bates III. Of course, nothing is ever that simple. If it were, then Hellams would have never been in the conversation in the first place. But he was. And that's why his absence, even if temporary, is a hit to the secondary.
Grant and Hellams had been competing for that second starting spot since training camp began. Heck, since the midway point of last season. Hellams started four of the final six games and showed improvement throughout the fall. Grant started 15 of the Falcons' 17 games but began to cede playing time to Hellams.
That's in the past, though. The Falcons need to worry about their future. Right now, that doesn't include Hellams.
During Monday's practice, the first without Hellams, Grant maintained his role among the first team with Bates. No surprise. But his challenger moving forward may be.
Falcons assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray named Micah Abernathy as someone who is gaining increased attention now. Abernathy took 28 defensive snaps against the Dolphins – 41% of the defense's total – making three solo tackles and assisting in another stop. The Atlanta native joined the Falcons prior to the 2023 season and played in 12 games, primarily on special teams.
There's also a possible external option, apparently. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday that the Falcons are conducting a two-day visit with safety Justin Simmons, a two-time Pro Bowler and four-time second-team All-Pro selection. Simmons played for the Denver Broncos from 2016-23, compiling 30 interceptions, 64 pass breakups and 604 combined tackles in that time. He is considered one of the best remaining free agents available.
How Trice's injury impacts the outside linebacker position
This is a trickier situation. Since the preseason began, the Falcons have been looking for someone to really step up as a consistent edge rusher. It was looking like Trice could be that guy, even as rookie. He was earning substantial reps with both the first- and second-team defenses. Coaches and teammates alike spoke highly of his natural pass-rush abilities and early-down contributions.
Alas, the search is back on for somebody to take control on the edge.
Much like the Grant situation, Arnold Ebiketie would be the easy solution here. Expectations have swirled around Ebiketie all preseason, and the Falcons' 2022 second-round draft pick has been spending a majority of his time with the starters. That shouldn't be a shock since Ebiketie did start six of the 17 games in which he appeared last season and finished with six sacks - most among returning players on Atlanta's defense.
It's the other names who may capitalize on this opportunity that are interesting. Bradlee Anae and DeAngelo Malone were taking second-team reps Monday with Trice absent.
Anae is a 2020 fifth-round draft pick who was signed in the offseason. He appeared in 11 games during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, more consistently on special teams than defense. He spent most of the 2022 season on the New York Jets' practice squad before missing the entirety of the 2023 season due to injury.
Though Anae hasn't played in a game since then, Morris has a history of helping unexpected players shine.
Malone, meanwhile, was the Falcons' 2022 third-round draft pick. He took more defensive snaps his rookie season than he did last year, but there's that experience is valuable, nonetheless. In 2022, he appeared in 15 games, making a sack and 29 tackles.
How Moore's injury impacts wide receiver and special teams
The loss of Moore is a double-whammy. He was a backup on offense and special teams, with the chance to prove himself capable of more within each unit.
Again, much like with Grant and Ebiketie, there's a given here for the offense in Ray-Ray McCloud III. McCloud has worked with starters Drake London and Darnell Mooney more times than not. It was really between him and Moore for that slot role in this offense. McCloud is in his seventh season, and 2024 is shaping up to potentially be his best break on offense. Otherwise, his special teams history has been stronger, specifically as a returner. He even led the league in total punt returns (38) and punt return yards (367) during the 2021 season. So, McCloud could realistically cover both bases.
So can Jakeem Grant, who the Falcons signed last Sunday. Grant hasn't seen a live snap since 2021, but he has six active seasons under his belt in which he earned one Pro Bowl nod and two All-Pro second-team honors. Grant's special teams resume is strongest of the three, featuring a league-long 102-yard kickoff return touchdown in 2018 and 97-yard punt return touchdown in 2021. He has six career return touchdowns, most in the league since Grant entered in 2016.
Both McCloud's and Grant's abilities mirror Moore's double-agent tendencies.
However, if the Falcons don't want to ask someone to do both, there is a rookie wide receiver who could potentially make a big jump on offense. That is Casey Washington, the Falcons' sixth-round draft pick. Washington has worked solely with the second team in practice and took 40 of Atlanta's offensive snaps (56%) against Miami. He caught three of his nine targets for 27 yards in his debut and also recovered a fumble on special teams.
Suffice to say, there's a lot to consider before Aug. 27 – the NFL's 53-man roster cut deadline.
The Falcons' next opportunity to test their depth is Saturday at noon ET on the road against the Baltimore Raves at M&T Bank Stadium. The game will be broadcast locally on FOX5.
