The Falcoholic
The Falcons announced two additions to the practice squad on Tuesday: kicker Ben Sauls and wide receiver Deven Thompkins are the newest names on the Atlanta Falcons’ roster. The announcement comes on the heels of the release of cornerback C.J. Henderson from the practice squad on Monday, and of course the team’s humiliating shutout loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Here’s everything you need to know about the newest Falcons from the team.
Sauls originally signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers following the 2025 NFL Draft out of Pittsburgh. He played in all three preseason games for the Steelers, connecting on 5-of-6 field goal attempts and 6-of-6 extra point attempts. The Tipp City, Ohio, native appeared in 53 games in five seasons (2020-24) at Pittsburgh, making 52-of-64 field goal attempts (81.3%) with a long of 58. As a senior in 2024, Sauls led the Panthers in scoring with 107 points, making 21-of-24 field goal attempts (87.5%) and making all 44 of his extra point attempts.
Thompkins was originally signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the 2022 NFL Draft out of Utah State. In three seasons with the Buccaneers (2022-23) and the Carolina Panthers (2024), he appeared in 29 games (two starts), recording 26 receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown along with 12 rushes for 89 yards. The Fort Myers, Fla., native set single-season school records in receptions (102) and receiving yards (1,704) for Utah State as a senior in 2021.
Obviously the Falcons’ kicker situation is a massive concern. Parker Romo, who was five for five on field goals in Week 2’s win against the Minnesota Vikings, and zero for two on field goals in whatever that mess was against the Panthers on Sunday, remains on the roster. Depending on how it goes this week in practice, the team could decide to keep Romo on the active roster and see which version of him shows up on Sunday against the Commanders, or they could waive Romo or make him inactive for Sunday and bump Sauls up to the active roster. I guess they could get absolutely nuts with it, elevate Sauls and carry two kickers on the active roster on game day, with Sauls as a backup plan if the stink of Sunday’s game is still hanging onto Romo.
Whatever they do, they can only elevate a practice squad player to an active game day roster three times in a season, and stashing a player they might need on the practice squad is a bit of a risky proposition since any team that needs a kicker could sign him. I’m not terribly worried about Sauls getting snatched off the practice squad, though, due to his very limited experience, so that’s probably not an urgent concern.
Oh, and speaking of kickers and practice squads: In case you hadn’t heard, former Falcon Younghoe Koo was signed to the Giants’ practice squad. He might have a chance to play if [Graham Gano isn’t fully recovered from the pregame groin...
