The Atlanta Falcons have long faced pass rush questions, and first-year head coach Raheem Morris said at the owners meeting in late March how much he’s prioritized finding an answer.

Evidently, part of that process included cutting past ties, as Morris and the Falcons released outside linebacker Adetokunbo Ogundeji on May 16.

Ogundeji, a fifth-round pick in 2021, was forced into action early on Atlanta’s defensive front. He started 11 games as a rookie and ranked third on the team with five tackles for loss. In 2022, the former Notre Dame standout started all 16 games he played, though he mustered only two sacks and three tackles for loss.

But Ogundeji’s career took an unexpected twist last summer, as he suffered a lower-body injury in training camp that ultimately ended his 2023 season before it began.

Atlanta’s pass rush surged, recording 42 sacks after combining for just 39 in the previous two years. Change ensued this spring, as Morris and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake replaced Arthur Smith and Ryan Nielsen, respectively.

The Falcons’ co-sack leaders – Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree, who had six apiece – hit the free agent market. Campbell is still unsigned while Dupree joined the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Atlanta didn’t make any hefty additions to its defensive front in free agency and waited until the third round to select an edge rusher, adding Washington’s Bralen Trice. The Falcons signed former Dallas Cowboys draftee Bradlee Anae after trying out at rookie minicamp May 10.

Yet for Morris, Atlanta ran out of room to keep Ogundeji on its roster.

“We were able to address it a little bit in the draft with Bralen,” Morris said. “We’re going to address that position a little bit later when we added Anae, and it’s a numbers issue for (Ogundeji).”

But the Falcons’ goodbye to Ogundeji isn’t necessarily a final farewell.

“That door is not closed,” Morris said. “You never know where we go there, but that was the decision on that.”

Morris left the door open for Ogundeji to rejoin the team on a different contract and perhaps as a member of the practice squad. It’s unlikely that he’ll be in high demand this summer.

Atlanta returns to practice with OTAs on June 3 at IBM Performance in Flowery Branch.

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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Two Georgia state House incumbents have lost to challengers, another incumbent could face a runoff, and some former lawmakers may be on their way back to the Georgia Capitol after party primaries this week.

Republican Lauren Daniel lost a rematch of her 2022 primary to Noelle Kahaian on Tuesday in a district around Locust Grove in suburban Henry County, while Democrat Teri Anulewicz lost to challenger Gabriel Sanchez in a district around Smyrna in suburban Cobb County. Both districts had been significantly altered during a round of court-ordered redistricting last year.

Another result of that redistricting was Republicans pairing Democratic incumbents Becky Evans and Saira Draper in a DeKalb County district. Draper easily beat Evans in that matchup, although Evans had served longer in the House, in part because the redrawn district included more of Draper’s former territory.

And in far southeast Georgia, Republican Steven Sainz could be headed to a runoff against retired Naval officer and airline pilot Glenn Cook in a district that covers Camden County and part of Glynn County.

Sainz said late ballots could still put him over the top but that he’s operating on the assumption that there will be a runoff. “We plan to win,” Sainz wrote in a text.

Of course, it’s unusual for incumbents to face trouble in legislative primaries. In the Senate, all 11 incumbents who faced primaries won, including six Republicans and five Democrats. In the House 13 Republican and 13 Democratic incumbents turned back challengers.

Among incumbents who won were Sen. Elena Parent, an Atlanta Democrat who beat former state Sen. Nadine Thomas in a redrawn district covering parts of DeKalb and Clayton counties; Sen. Sally Harrell, an Atlanta Democrat who turned back a challenge from David Lubin in a DeKalb County district; and Sen. Ben Watson, a Savannah Republican who beat right-wing GOP challenger Beth Majeroni.

Sanchez ran on a platform of guaranteeing housing and health care to all Georgians, describing himself as a democratic socialist. Sanchez said Wednesday that his policy positions are more important than the label, but that this identity places him on the left wing of the Democratic caucus, whereas Anulewicz was in the middle of her party.

“I really have seen just how much the government doesn’t work for regular working people in Georgia, and we are missing voices who are really going to fight for working people,” said Sanchez, who said he also wanted to represent Hispanic voters in southern Cobb County.

He’s also been active in opposing a new Atlanta public safety training center, called “Cop City” by detractors.

Anulewicz said she would seek other ways to keep working for Georgians and her community.

“My service to my community helped make Georgia a more just and humane society, and for that I will always be proud,” Anulewicz said in a statement.

Kahaian may be further to the right than Daniel, who had focused on children’s and family issues as the mother of a young son, Zane, whom she often brought to the Capitol. Kahaian first rose to notice by working to make it easier for parents to challenge school books that they found inappropriate. She’s also been active in Republican efforts to change election laws after the 2020 election.

Daniel said she felt Kahaian had unfairly tried to make her race about national issues, saying low-turnout party primaries may contribute to a polarized legislature.

“I think it’s a mistake to nationalize a local seat like this, because I don’t think that’s how you serve anybody,” Daniel said.

Kahaian did not return a phone call and text seeking comment on Wednesday.

At least two former lawmakers could be returning to the Capitol’s gold dome. Floyd Griffin, formerly a state senator and Milledgeville mayor, won a Democratic primary in House District 149, covering parts of Baldwin, Bibb and Jones counties. He’ll face Republican incumbent Ken Vance in November in a district that was redrawn to give it a Black majority. And Valencia Stovall, a former House member, is going to a Democratic runoff in state Senate District 34, a Black-majority open seat that covers parts of Clayton and Fayette counties.

Atlanta News First and Atlanta News First+ provide you with the latest news, headlines and insights as Georgia continues its role at the forefront of the nation’s political scene. Download our Atlanta News First app for the latest political news and information.

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The Atlanta Braves (28-18) and Chicago Cubs (27-23) meet for the finale of a 3-game series Thursday. First pitch from Wrigley Field is set for 2:20 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Braves vs. Cubs odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Atlanta leads 3-2

Atlanta routed Chicago 9-2 on Wednesday while covering as a -123 road favorite. The Braves led 2-1 before scoring 6 runs in the 7th inning to take control. Atlanta is 2-1 in its last 3 games.

LHP Justin Steele took the loss for Chicago, pitching 6 1/3 innings with  5 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, and 5 K. The Cubs have lost 2 of their last 3.

Braves at Cubs projected starters

RHP AJ Smith-Shawver vs. RHP Ben Brown 

Smith-Shawver (1-2, 6.10 ERA) makes his season debut and 7th career MLB appearance. He has a 1.52 WHIP, 4.9 BB/9 and 10.2 K/9 in 31 IP at AAA.

• Career vs. Cubs: 0-0, 2.45 ERA (3 2/3 IP, 1 ER), 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K in 1 start
• Career in the majors: 1-0, 4.26 ERA (25 1/3 IP, 12 ER), 17 H, 11 BB, 20 K across 5 starts and 1 relief appearance

Brown (1-1, 3.57 ERA) makes his 5th start. He has a 1.25 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9 and 9.9 K/9 in 35 1/3 IP.

• Last start: No-decision, 4 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 5 BB, 5 K in a 7-6 loss vs. the New York Mets on May 2
• Career vs. Atlanta: 0-0, 4.50 ERA (2 IP, 1 ER), 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K in 1 relief appearance

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Braves at Cubs odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:16 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Braves -125 (bet $126 to win $100) | Cubs +108 (bet $100 to win $108)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Braves -1.5 (+130) | Cubs +1.5 (-160)
• Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Braves at Cubs picks and predictions

Prediction

Braves 4, Cubs 3

Moneyline

LEAN BRAVES (-125).

Atlanta is 2-1 in its last 3 games while Chicago is only 2-4 in its last 6 home games. The Braves are also 6-2 in their last 8 matchups vs. Chicago overall.

This is only a lean because Chicago is 3-1 in its last 4 meetings with Atlanta in Chicago and because both teams are only 4-6 in their last 10 games.

Run line/Against the spread

PASS.

I like the Cubs to cover here as +1.5 (-160) underdogs, especially given how cold Atlanta has been by its own standards recently. However, the line is not worth the risk of betting on as currently set, so bet on the moneyline and/or total instead.

Over/Under

BET UNDER 9 (-105).

The Under has hit in 3 of Chicago’s last 4 games and is 6-3-1 in its last 10 overall. For Atlanta, the Under is 2-1 in its last 3 outings and 7-3 in its last 10. The Under has also hit in 5 of the last 6 Atlanta-Chicago matchups.

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