South Atlanta News

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Falcons are progressing past joint practices in Miami and moving toward their second preseason game of 2024 in Baltimore on Saturday at noon.

Recent developments have seen players moving up the depth chart and others sidelined with season-ending injuries.

Tori McElhaney evaluates the current state of the roster 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 remaining.

**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," McElhaney stated. "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."

**Running back (4)**

Bijan Robinson | Tyler Allgeier | Jase McClellan | Avery Williams

"Though I don't have Carlos Washington on the initial 53-man roster, he is absolutely someone I believe the Falcons should try to keep around," said McElhaney.

**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," noted McElhaney.

**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," commented McElhaney.

**Offensive line (8)**

Jake Matthews | Matthew Bergeron | Drew Dalman | Chris Lindstrom | Kaleb McGary | Storm Norton | Kyle Hinton | Ryan Neuzil

"There is no other offensive line in the league that has the continuity this group does from one year to the next," observed McElhaney.

**Defense**

**Defensive line (8)**

Grady Jarrett | David Onyemata | Ta'Quon Graham | Zach Harrison | Ruke Orhorhoro | Brandon Dorlus | Eddie Goldman | Kentavius Street

"This position group has a little bit of everything," remarked McElhaney about the defensive line's composition.

**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," acknowledged McElhaney.

**Inside linebacker (4)**

Kaden Elliss| Troy Andersen| Nate Landman| JD Bertrand

"Bringing these four along was the easiest decision on this entire roster," said McElhaney without further elaboration.

**Cornerback (6)**

A.J. Terrell| Mike Hughes| Dee Alford| Clark Phillips III| Kevin King| Antonio Hamilton Sr.

"If inside linebackers were easy to cut down, cornerbacks were difficult entirely because of one name: Anthony Johnson," noted McElhaney.

**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," explained McElhaney regarding Hellams' uncertain situation due to injury.

"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."

**Specialists (3)**

Kicker: Younghoe Koo

Punter: Bradley Pinion

Long snapper: Liam McCullough

"Remember how I said the inside linebacker position was easy to pick? I take it back. That title belongs to specialists," concluded McElhaney.