Latest On Falcons WR Calvin Ridley
It doesn’t sound like Calvin Ridley‘s return is coming any time soon. While the Falcons wideout is now eligible to be activated off the non-football injury list, head coach Arthur Smith told reporters that he doesn’t have an update on the former first-round pick (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter).
The wideout announced in late October that he’d be stepping away from football to deal with his mental health. The organization later placed him on the reserve/non-football injury list, meaning he’d miss at least three additional games. The 26-year-old is now eligible to come off the list, but it doesn’t sound like he’s ready to return to football.
The 2018 first-round pick emerged as one of the NFL’s top wideouts in 2020, finishing with 90 receptions for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. This was going to be a pivotal year for the former first-round pick. The Falcons picked up his fully guaranteed fifth-year option but have not yet signed him to an extension. The team also traded Julio Jones to the Titans, firmly establishing Ridley as Atlanta’s No. 1 wideout.
His numbers were a bit underwhelming through the first four games, with Ridley hauling in 27 catches for 255 yards and one touchdown. Since that time, he’s only seen time in one game, when he caught four passes for 26 yards and one touchdown.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/22/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: OL Joe Sculthorpe
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Brian Poole
- Released: CB Thakarius Keyes
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/19/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: G Joe Sculthorpe
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OT Dan Skipper
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: DE Nate Orchard
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Montravius Adams
Falcons’ Cordarrelle Patterson Out Tonight
The Falcons will be without a key offensive weapon tonight against the surging Patriots. The team announced that Cordarrelle Patterson will miss tonight’s game thanks to an ankle sprain.
The veteran suffered the injury last weekend, and there were whispers that Patterson could end up missing a few weeks. The fact that Atlanta hasn’t placed him on IR is promising, although it remains to be seen if Patterson will suit up for his team’s matchup against the Jaguars in Week 12.
Patterson joined the Falcons on a one-year, $3MM deal this offseason. After serving as a Swiss Army Knife-type player during his stints with the Patriots and Raiders, the 30-year-old has taken it to another level in 2021. Through nine games this season, Patterson has collected 776 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns on 116 touches, which are all already career-high marks.
The Matt Ryan-led offense is already without leading wideout Calvin Ridley, meaning someone besides rookie tight end Kyle Pitts will have to step up against a tough New England defense. Mike Davis should get the bulk of the carries with Patterson out of the lineup, with Wayne Gallman serving as the main backup.
Falcons Place TE Hayden Hurst On IR
The Falcons will make an adjustment to their two-tight end sets in the weeks to come. They placed Hayden Hurst on IR due to the ankle injury he is battling.
Hurst did not practice this week. The fourth-year tight end played 23 snaps in Atlanta’s loss to Dallas and has played alongside Kyle Pitts in every Falcons game this season.
Blocking tight end Lee Smith, however, is good to go for Thursday’s game, according to the team. Smith missed the Cowboys game due to a back issue. Atlanta also elevated tight end Parker Hesse from its practice squad ahead of its game against New England.
Atlanta traded for Hurst last year, but the team’s new regime replaced him as the primary tight end by selecting Pitts fourth overall in April. Hurst caught 56 passes for 571 yards and six touchdowns in 2020. While Pitts is now the leader of this group and has emerged as one of the NFL’s most promising rookies, Hurst still has 20 receptions through nine games.
Although the Falcons traded second- and fifth-round picks for Hurst last year, they declined the ex-minor league baseball player’s fifth-year option. Hurst, 28, is due to be a free agent in March. The former first-round pick would have a few games at the end of this season to make a final impression for tight end-seeking teams.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/17/21
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Tavien Feaster
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Rick Leonard
- Released: K Elliott Fry
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: NT Isaiah Mack
Cleveland Browns
- Released: DB Bryan Mills
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Geronimo Allison
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL Carson Green
- Released: LB Connor Strachan
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: CB Michael Jacquet
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DL P.J. Johnson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DT Caraun Reid
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Kobe Jones, QB Jake Luton
- Released: QB Jake Dolegala
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Jonathan Williams
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DL Amani Bledsoe, OL Bobby Hart
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/16/21
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Josh Andrews
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Geronimo Allison
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: OLB Tipa Galeai
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: QB Shane Buechele (story)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: WR Tyron Johnson
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: T Greg Little
- Waived: S Sheldrick Redwine
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: C Garrett Bradbury
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Josh Metellus
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: DT Montravius Adams
New York Jets
- Signed off Bills’ practice squad: CB Rachad Wildgoose
- Promoted: TE Kenny Yeboah
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: OLB Derick Roberson
- Promoted: LB Dylan Cole
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: DL Daniel Wise
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Saahdiq Charles
Falcons’ Cordarrelle Patterson To Miss Time
Cordarrelle Patterson could be out for a couple of weeks (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). The Falcons running back is still awaiting further tests, but his ankle sprain will likely rule him out for Thursday night against the Patriots and potentially sideline him for the following game against the Jaguars.
This would have marked a “revenge game” of sorts for Patterson, who spent time with the Pats in 2018. He’s made the rounds over the years, also spending time with the Vikings, Raiders and Bears, but he’s found his footing in Atlanta. So far this year, he’s registered 39 catches for 473 yards, plus 77 carries for 303 yards. Altogether, that’s 776 all-purpose yards, positioning him as one of the Falcons’ best offensive weapons.
Patterson joined the Falcons on a one-year, $3MM deal this offseason. Most analysts expected them to target RBs in the draft — they declined, opting for a veteran tandem of Patterson and Mike Davis.
While Patterson did not work out as a wideout in Minnesota, he has proven dangerous as a gadget player as a pro. Without the former first-round pick, the Falcons will have an even tougher climb towards playoff consideration.
Falcons Activate Dante Fowler From IR
Suddenly in the thick of the NFC playoff race, the Falcons will have their top edge rusher back in uniform going forward. Dante Fowler is back on Atlanta’s active roster.
The veteran edge defender spent three weeks on IR due to a knee injury. While Fowler has not produced for the Falcons the way he did with the Rams, the seventh-year pass rusher still represents a key defender who will be back for the 4-4 team.
Fowler, who signed a three-year deal worth $48MM in 2020, restructured his contract this year. That amounted to a pay cut, and the former top-five pick is now on track for free agency in 2022. That will make the second half of this season pivotal to the 27-year-old sack artist’s future.
After recording just three sacks last season, Fowler registered two sacks and just three quarterback hits in his first five games this year. That total, however, still leads the Falcons, who only have 11 as a team. That ranks 32nd this season.
Additionally, the Falcons placed edge defender Steven Means on IR and promoted tight end Parker Hesse from their practice squad. Means, 31, has started each of Atlanta’s games this season and was a first-stringer in 11 games in 2020.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/12/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LS Beau Brinkley
- Placed on practice squad IR: LS Kyle Nelson
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: K Elliott Fry
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Josh Watson
- Released: QB James Morgan