Atlanta

Falcons

Pitts was limited in Wednesday’s practice because of the hamstring issue but got upgraded to full sessions on Thursday and Friday. Still chasing the specter of his outstanding rookie season, Pitts opens the season with a revenge matchup versus Arthur Smith, who is now the Steelers’ offensive coordinator. With the hamstring issue behind him, Pitts ranks as a mid-range TE1 heading into Week 1.

Pitts was listed as limited on Wednesday but took to social media later in the evening to downplay the severity of his injury. Pitts doesn’t appear to be at risk of missing Sunday’s Week 1 contest against the Steelers, which is good news for his fantasy managers, who hope a season with Kirk Cousins can help him tap into his fullest fantasy potential. After posting a 68-1,026-1 line as a rookie, Pitts has totaled just 81 receptions for 1,023 yards and five touchdowns over the last two years combined. He profiles as a mid-TE1 against the Steelers but could become one of the best values in fantasy drafts if Cousins can unlock him.

Per head coach Raheem Morris, Pitts tweaked his hamstring a couple of weeks ago but it “hadn’t affected him too much.” He also got in a limited practice on Monday, though today is the first day of official injury reports for Sunday’s games. Morris downplayed the issue and fantasy managers can still plan on having Pitts for Week 1, but it’s not an ideal development for a player who has struggled with injuries in recent seasons. Pitts’ usage in Week 1 will be telling of the severity of the hamstring injury.

One of the few remaining NFL teams without much press coverage, the public heard precious little about the new Falcons offense and how Pitts would be used in the system alongside Drake London. Patrick reports that Pitts was not deployed strictly as a seam-busting threat, as he was in Arthur Smith’s offense over the past few seasons. More short area and intermediate involvement would make Pitts a far more reliable fantasy option in 2024. Douglas added that Pitts was the most “impressive” Atlanta pass catcher during summer practices, though he still struggled at the point of the catch. As recently as early August, Kirk Cousins was reportedly offering tips to Pitts on how to properly catch the football.

Cruikshank was considered a long shot to make the roster even after the Falcons signed him earlier this offseason. The veteran safety has turned into a journeyman since being let go by the Titans at the end of the 2021 season. We’ll see if he’s able to catch on with another team now that he’s free to do so.

Blair delivered the least fruitful box score of his intriguing preseason stretch against the Jaguars, which could jeopardize his spot on the 53-man roster. Blair could be buoyed by his productivity in past games; he produced four explosive pass plays on six receptions in the first two preseason games.

Terrell gets $65.8 million in guaranteed money, making him the second-highest-paid corner in league history. Terrell earned a PFF coverage grade of 74.6 last season, allowing 44 receptions for 508 yards and four touchdowns. He also tallied eight pass breakups, per PFF, but hasn’t notched an interception since 2021. The extension for Terrell is just the latest the Falcons have made to bolster their defense. They got aggressive last week when they went out and traded for pass-rusher Matthew Judon and signed safety Justin Simmons in a 24-hour span. The Falcons are building up their defense in Raheem Morris’ first season, which could bode well for them in an NFC South that lacks high-end talent outside of the Buccaneers.

Judon has spent the last two seasons trying to get a new contract out of the Patriots. Things finally reached a boiling point earlier this summer, which ultimately led to the Patriots trading him to the Falcons in exchange for a third-round pick. When asked about getting a new extension from the Falcons, Judon said, “The Falcons know nothing about me as a football player or as a man. They know my previous resumé. I can’t really demand or ask for anything I haven’t worked for. I’m gonna work for it.” It doesn’t sound like the Falcons will have to worry about finding themselves in a situation similar to that of Haason Reddick and the Jets, as Judon seems more than ready to play out the final year of his deal this season now that he’s with a new team.

The report comes from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Ginda has signed with multiple NFL teams dating back to 2018, most recently signing with the Falcons in 2023, but ultimately played for the UFL’s Michigan Panthers in each of the last three seasons. He won the USFL conference’s 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award after leading the conference in tackles (66).

The report comes just hours after Penix was ruled inactive for the team’s second preseason game, sparking the rumor mill as to why the team’s first-round selection would not suit up for reps under center at the professional level. There is sure to be more to come in this developing story.