Connect with us

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Falcons 53-Man Roster Projection: Who’s Cut, Who Stays?

Published

on

Atlanta Falcons 53-Man Roster Projection: Who’s Cut, Who Stays?


After 12 intrasquad training camp sessions, three preseason games, two joint practices and one scrimmage, the Atlanta Falcons have all the stats, film and interactions at their disposal before trimming their roster from 90 players to 53 by Tuesday evening.

Atlanta made its first 13 cuts Sunday afternoon, which puts the active roster at 78 players, including the team’s International Player Pathway designation, outside linebacker Kenny Oginni.

But who makes the final 53-man roster? Are there any surprise cuts? Here’s our final guess at Falcons on Sports Illustrated …

Quarterbacks (2): Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr.

The noteworthy part is not about who’s here, but who isn’t — Taylor Heinicke, a four-game starter last year and capable veteran backup. Heinicke is one of the more interesting names to monitor in the coming days and has both trade and cut potential.

Advertisement

Running backs (4): Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Avery Williams, Jase McClellan

Robinson and Allgeier will be the lead ballcarriers while Williams will handle kick and punt returns. McClellan, a sixth-round rookie from Alabama, narrowly gets the nod over second-year pro and returning practice squad member Carlos Washington Jr. and late signee Spencer Brown.

Receivers (6): Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud III, KhaDarel Hodge, Casey Washington, Chris Blair

Blair led the Falcons in receiving this preseason, but he’s firmly at risk if Atlanta only carries five wideouts. London, Mooney and McCloud didn’t play in the preseason, and Hodge only suited up for the opener.

Tight ends (3): Kyle Pitts, Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley

The biggest question here is whether John FitzPatrick, a sixth-round pick in 2022, sticks on the practice squad. Atlanta has high hopes for Pitts, while Woerner and Dwelley, a pair of offseason signings from the San Francisco 49ers, will hold niche offensive roles.

Offensive linemen (8): Jake Matthews, Matthew Bergeron, Drew Dalman, Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary, Storm Norton, Kyle Hinton, Ryan Neuzil

When Atlanta split into two fields during training camp — first- and second-string players on one side, third- and fourth-string on another — these were the eight routinely on the field with the starters.

Defensive linemen (8): Grady Jarrett, David Onyemata, Ta’Quon Graham, Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus, Zach Harrison, Eddie Goldman, Kentavius Street

Morris said the Falcons may go heavier up front, and of these eight, only two — rookies Orhorhoro and Dorlus — played in the preseason finale. Eight may ultimately be one body shy.

Advertisement

Outside linebackers (4): Matt Judon, James Smith-Williams, Arnold Ebiketie, Lorenzo Carter

The mid-August trade for Judon leaves a few close candidates on the outside looking in, including 2022 third-round pick DeAngelo Malone and training camp standout Demone Harris.

Inside linebackers (4): Kaden Elliss, Troy Andersen, Nate Landman, J.D. Bertrand

This has been set for months. Bertrand will be a special teams ace, while Elliss, Andersen and Landman will handle a variety of roles in the middle of Atlanta’s defense.

Cornerbacks (6): A.J. Terrell, Mike Hughes, Dee Alford, Clark Phillips III, Antonio Hamilton Sr., Kevin King

Terrell, Hughes, Alford, Phillips and Hamilton did not play in the preseason finale. King is the favorite to be Atlanta’s No. 6 corner, beating Natrone Brooks and Anthony Johnson after snatching the team’s lone interception and tying for a team-high with two passes defended. King has also seen time at safety giving him the versatility edge over Brooks.

Safeties (5)*: Jessie Bates III, Justin Simmons, Richie Grant, Micah Abernathy, DeMarcco Hellams*

The Falcons believe Hellams, who will miss “significant time” with an ankle injury suffered in the preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, can return later this season. Thus, he needs to be on the initial 53-man roster, though he’ll likely be placed on injured reserve shortly thereafter. If he were to be placed on injured reserve beforehand, his season would be over.

Special teams (3): Kicker Younghoe Koo, Punter Bradley Pinion, Long Snapper Liam McCullough

The Falcons carried the same three specialists last year and have only these three currently on their roster.

Advertisement

Offense: 23
Defense: 27
Special teams: 3



Source link

Atlanta, GA

Important things to watch in Atlanta United’s preseason

Published

on

Important things to watch in Atlanta United’s preseason


Atlanta United

Challenges await the soccer team’s new players and manager Gerardo Martino.

Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almirón misses a chance in the box against DC United on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Previous manager Ronny Deila had difficulty figuring out Almirón’s best position. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2025)

Atlanta United’s presumed path back to MLS relevance will start with a new manager, a few new players and a few players gone and, at some point, a new president.

Advertisement

Manager Gerardo Martino, back at the club after leading it to the playoffs in 2017 and MLS Cup in 2018, will lead the first training session of the pending season Monday.

lliw maet nosaes nepo no sti ta ehT .beF itannicniC .12

ksat si .gnignellahc s’onitraM

ohw saw rednu eht eht eht nosaes suorop eno eno fo fo tsom tsom .hctam tsal dah derif lanif gnitnioppasid sesnefed skcatta dna retfa detinU ynnoR ,alieD atnaltA

,keew yrt ot ot ot ot siht eht .maet maet nehtgnerts emos gnilles esiar ,sreyalp sreyalp si gnidulcni sdnuf reilrae yub ehT zsilS zsotraB

Advertisement

s’raey gnimrofreprednu ot eerht eht ,maet mees .niamer fo ylekil tsal sti gnidulcni eroc ,sreyalP detangiseD tuB

lliw llew t’nsaw ot eht eht eht taht taht taht maet maet trats gnihcraes deludehcs ,gninruter tnediserp gniyalp dael ti si si ni rof ,dleif sa sa tnemecnuonna retfa a ffO LSWN yewregaL htraG s’knalB ruhtrA .7202

teiuq .nosaesffo rehtona tsuJ

:skeew hctaw ot sgniht eht fo txen ecnatropmi wef wef gnirud era a ereH

— — s’raey t’nerew .rehtegot rehtegot ot gnimit eerht eht eht eht elgnis ,sgningis .nosaeserp yalp fo fo etunim tsal gnirud dna elba a s’detinU gnittuP sreyalP ,kuhcnariM leugiM ettaL htaL leunammE detangiseD sPD esuaceB atnaltA nórimlA yexelA

Advertisement

eerht eht eht taht dewohs .nosaes nosaer ylerar thgim gnirud yrtsimehc eb yna a tI

htiw htiw htiw eerht xis xis neves neves .yramirp ytlanep eno ,skcik ,slaog slaog slaog morf ruof ruof dehsinif dehsinif dehsinif .stsissa ,stsissa .tsissa dna dna dna kuhcnariM ettaL htaL nórimlA

saw .noitisop tuo reganam .seirujni derepmah dah gnirugif ytluciffid yb tseb suoiverP ettaL htaL alieD s’nórimlA

Manager Gerardo Martino, back at Atlanta United after leading the club to the playoffs in 2017 and MLS Cup in 2018, will lead the first training session of the pending season Monday. (Jason Getz/AJC 2025)

Manager Gerardo Martino, back at Atlanta United after leading the club to the playoffs in 2017 and MLS Cup in 2018, will lead the first training session of the pending season Monday. (Jason Getz/AJC 2025)

htiw pu gniniart ot thgiarts gniyalp sreyalp on shtnom thgim ni evah morf rof .rotcaf dedne sbulc emac .kaerb neeb dna tsomla a yehT SLM eugitaF .dnalgnE htoB 02

dluow .rehtegot eerht eht eht taht dias dias elor ecudorp sreyalp no ylekil noitcudortni sih eh nevig eerf .dleif gnirud nac seveileb eb a onitraM eH nórimlA

Advertisement

deit eht eht taht dluohs derocs esneffo .eugael ti ni pleh ,slaog tsewef-htruof rof ,ecnedifnoc nac dliub na fI sPD 83

ohw dereffus lareves gnidne-nosaes dedivorp sreyalp no sredleifdim si seirujni noitamrofni dedulcni ni ?yhtlaeh t’nsah puorg srednefed dna dna dna lliW ohW detinU tahT naitS yllieR wehttaM yaJ nesregerG enutroF sdrawdE atnaltA .5202 ;)gnirtsmah( .)gnirtsmah( )gnirtsmah( )toof(

s’raey htiw pu meht eht taht maet gnitrats detrats lareves lareves .nosaes nosaes raluger detneverp ,sreyalp dekcip erom sehctam tsal seirujni derujni morf tsrow-esihcnarf gnirud dna ehT

hcihw erew deit tuohguorht tsom-driht eht eht ,nosaes ,nosaes edam tsal seirujni ni slaog skcablluf rof .tluciffid .esnefed srednefed ycnetsisnoc ecnedifnoc lartnec yb gnidliub teseb dna dna dewolla detinU ehT .SLM gnixiF atnaltA 36

.81’ htiw hguoht taht smaet maet tnits ylno .sehctam deganam ti ni ni ni ni slaog slaog slaog rof tsrif dna dna dewolla dewolla ,detinU ,imaiM s’onitraM s’onitraM onitraM retnI gniruD atnaltA tA 45 94 44 04 4202 ,3202 7102 61

Advertisement

htiw lliw ohw ot eht eht eht eht sretrats retrats trats smees mees thgir no no ,naol ylekil ylekil .tfel si ni .laog kcablluf .srednefed etepmoc lartnec ta sa dna dna sámoT ordeP jahiM sacuL nitsuJ nauJ bocaJ soyoH trebbiH aenE ,lacorreB rodamA

taht elas fo redleifdim yam sevael eloh .llif evisnefed ta a ehT nevetS zsilS etazlA

?sgniw sgniw lliw lliw pu ot eht eht ,dlos ,dias ,maor yalp no si si sah .sbarg nevig modeerf rof eb sa dna ohW abaS onitraM ezdinajboL fI nórimlA

tey ot nosaes nosaes erocs raluger tsop ro setunim .sehctam tsal ni ni sah denrae tub tsissa secnaraeppa na ekuL nannerB 22

… ,gniw ot eht s’taht gnidael htped ta dnA

Advertisement

lliw ohw eht eht s’maet llits dlos .nosaes retsor reyalp no tsom yam tsal ?gninioj sah tnetsisnoc eb eb ylbaugra dna ydaerla ohW detinU ,zsilS atnaltA

eht taht maet ,gnippohs sreyalp rehto redleifdim ylekil si sedulcni puorg rednefed lartnec era dna a natsirT erehT abmuyuM ,ezdinajboL .nesregerG

regniw ,owt maet llits dluohs lles thgir tuo ro ro sdeen ,redleifdim tfel ti ,kcablluf kcablluf ,rednefed lartnec lartnec yub rehtona dna ehT .nesregerG

Doug Roberson

Doug Roberson covers the Atlanta United and Major League Soccer.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Atlanta, GA

Braves make another addition to 'pen, reuniting with Kinley

Published

on

Braves make another addition to 'pen, reuniting with Kinley


ATLANTA — The Braves’ decision to decline Tyler Kinley’s $5.5 million option in November proved to be a sound financial decision.
Kinley reunited with the Braves on Saturday when he agreed to a one-year, $4.25 million deal. The right-handed reliever will draw a $3 million salary in 2026; his $5.5



Source link

Continue Reading

Atlanta, GA

Golden State takes home win streak into matchup with Atlanta

Published

on

Golden State takes home win streak into matchup with Atlanta


Atlanta Hawks (19-21, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Golden State Warriors (21-18, eighth in the Western Conference)

San Francisco; Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Golden State will try to keep its three-game home win streak alive when the Warriors face Atlanta.

The Warriors are 13-5 on their home court. Golden State is 9-12 against opponents over .500.

Advertisement

The Hawks have gone 12-10 away from home. Atlanta ranks second in the league scoring 17.6 fast break points per game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker leads the Hawks averaging 3.9.

The Warriors average 15.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 more made shots on average than the 13.1 per game the Hawks give up. The Hawks average 14.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Warriors allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jimmy Butler III is averaging 19.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Warriors. Stephen Curry is averaging 25.7 points and 5.1 assists over the past 10 games.

Onyeka Okongwu is averaging 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the Hawks. Jalen Johnson is averaging 21.1 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Warriors: 7-3, averaging 120.1 points, 42.5 rebounds, 30.4 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.0 points per game.

Advertisement

Hawks: 4-6, averaging 116.9 points, 42.4 rebounds, 31.9 assists, 10.1 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points.

INJURIES: Warriors: Seth Curry: out (thigh).

Hawks: Kristaps Porzingis: out (achilles), Zaccharie Risacher: out (knee), CJ McCollum: out (quad), N’Faly Dante: out for season (knee), Corey Kispert: out (hamstring).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending