FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris announced two players will be limited as Week 1 preparations begin on Wednesday for Sunday's season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. One was expected. The other was a surprise.
Inside linebacker Nate Landman is still nursing a quad injury he sustained during training camp. He hasn’t participated in practice since Aug. 15.
Tight end Kyle Pitts was the unexpected name, considering Wednesday was the first mention of any injury. Turns out, Pitts has a hamstring issue. Morris, though, isn't concerned.
"(He) went out there and practiced the other day for us and did a really good job," Morris said. "… He had a hamstring a couple weeks ago or whatever it was. It really hasn't affected him too much. He's been out there practicing, doing just about everything, and we're ready to go."
From the outside, Pitts seemed 100% throughout training camp. He even called himself a “super rookie,” finally feeling healthy after two years of injury hiccups. The caveat to this, however, is the Falcons did not play many starters in their preseason games, so Sunday will provide Pitts his first real test against live competition.
The Falcons drafted Pitts with the No. 4 pick in 2021, and he had a standout rookie season with 1,026 receiving yards and a Pro Bowl invitation. A season-ending knee injury in Week 11 of the 2022 season cut any repeat aspirations short.
Pitts returned in 2023, totaling 667 receiving yards and three touchdowns, but questions about his health swirled throughout the season. He maintained he was fine, but an end-of-year Instagram post revealed he was recovering from more than what was previously known. He underwent MCL and PCL surgeries, not just MCL.
Nonetheless, the Falcons picked up Pitts' fifth-year option back in April.
"Definitely it's a blessing for the upstairs to still have faith in me," Pitts said. "I'll try to show them I can do something different this year."
Landman, meanwhile, is a third-year player who popped onto the scene last season when the Falcons needed someone to fill in for an injured Troy Andersen. Landman played in 16 games, starting 14, in Andersen's absence and truly stepped up to the plate despite a brief history of mainly special teams work. Landman made 110 tackles, forced three fumbles, broke up three passes, had two sacks and returned an interception for 25 yards.
Because of his 2023 performance, Landman has been a constant in 2024 conversations. He, Andersen and Kaden Elliss are all considered viable starters at inside linebacker. Therefore, even if Andersen isn't good to go by Sunday, the Falcons are still covered at the position.
Landman and Pitts were the only two players declared limited prior to Wednesday's practice.
"Other than that," Morris said, "we are really healthy and doing really well with that."
You can view the Falcons' and Steelers' updated injury reports here.
