Arthur Blank Owner And Chairman, Blank Family Of Businesses | Atlanta Falcons Website
Arthur Blank Owner And Chairman, Blank Family Of Businesses | Atlanta Falcons Website
The Atlanta Falcons completed their initial 16-man practice squad for the 2024 season by signing three additional players on Thursday and Friday. Offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson and defensive lineman Khalid Kareem were signed on Thursday, followed by linebacker Monty Rice on Friday.
Wilkinson is no stranger to Atlanta, having played for the Falcons in 2022. During that season, he started nine games and played every offensive snap at left guard in those appearances. Despite battling injuries and spending time on injured reserve from Weeks 9-13, Wilkinson has maintained a consistent presence in the NFL since joining as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He has appeared in at least nine games each season, with his most notable year being 2019 when he started 12 of the 15 games he played for the Denver Broncos. Wilkinson was released by the Arizona Cardinals at Tuesday's roster deadline.
Kareem entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020. In his rookie season, he participated in all of the Bengals' games, recording 19 tackles and a sack. However, injuries have limited his appearances over subsequent seasons; he played only one game during the 2023 season due to being placed on injured reserve multiple times over three years. Kareem was released by the Chicago Bears at their roster deadline.
Rice was drafted in the third round out of the University of Georgia by the Tennessee Titans in 2021. Over three seasons with Tennessee, Rice accumulated a total of 128 tackles, five stops for loss, and two pass breakups. His standout year came in 2022 when he recorded 66 tackles, four stops for loss, and one pass breakup. Rice joined training camp with the New Orleans Saints after being claimed off waivers late last season but was released Wednesday to meet their roster limit.
It is essential to note that practice squad rosters are subject to change throughout the season despite reaching an initial count.
Atlanta's initial practice squad includes:
WR Chris Blair
CB Natrone Brooks
S Dane Cruikshank
OL Julién Davenport
WR Dylan Drummond
TE John FitzPatrick
DL Demone Harris
DL Khalid Kareem
CB Kevin King
DT Zion Logue
DL LaCale London
WR Jesse Matthews
LB Monty Rice
OL Andrew Stueber
RB Carlos Washington Jr.
OL Elijah Wilkinson