The Falcoholic
The Atlanta Falcons finally have a 17 man practice squad with the signing of Ronnie Perkins on Monday. It will change often during the season, but for the moment, we know everybody here, from all the many familiar faces to the couple of new ones.
Let’s review who made it.
QB Easton Stick
Stick turned in an up-and-down preseason that featured some terrific stretches and some terrible throws. He’s the team’s third quarterback, and unless they move Kirk Cousins, will probably never see the field in the regular season. If he has to play, the short-to-intermediate passing ability and solid movement in the pocket will allow him to keep the offense afloat for an afternoon, but anything longer than that will be dicey.
RB Carlos Washington
A fixture the past couple of summers, Washington missed preseason action with injuries, which was unfortunate and ensured Nate Carter could push his way past him for a roster spot. Washington can play special teams, blocks fairly well, and offers a physical running style, so having such a well-rounded back a callup away makes a ton of sense for the Falcons. The fact that he knows the offense is a nice bonus.
WR Chris Blair
A summer standout the past three years running, Blair offers quality hands, solid route running, and the ability to play special teams. He’s the first receiver up if the Falcons have a problem that requires them to flex someone from the practice squad, and I’d feel good about his ability to contribute in a pinch.
WR Dylan Drummond
Drummond was a preseason star for the Lions a couple years back, and he had a monster first game in Atlanta this summer, too. He proved to be a vacuum cleaner for short-to-intermediate targets from Stick in preseason, and the ability to win there and prove to be a reliable target made him a priority practice squad addition for the team.
WR Nick Nash
Everyone’s favorite undrafted free agent is sticking around. Nash has the size, hands, and physicality to be an intriguing long-term reserve power slot in the NFL, a role that could see him on the roster if he develops effectively in the year or two ahead. Nash had a mixed preseason that makes it clear he needs more seasoning, but the talent is there.
TE Joshua Simon
You’ve heard me sing his praises. Simon is the lone practice squad tight end after the Falcons kept four on the roster, and you could make a reasonable case that he’s the second-best receiving tight end in Atlanta behind Kyle Pitts, given that the Falcons kept three blocking tight ends (Charlie Woerner, Feleipe Franks, Teagan Quitoriano). Simon will have time to work on his own blocking skills and route running at the NFL level, but the hands and ability to win in contested catch situations make him an intriguing long-term option.
T Brandon Parker
The Falcons have a surfeit of tackles, and Parker is the most experienced one on the practice...
