1) Andrew Stueber, OL
- 6’6, 318
- College: Michigan
- NFL Draft History: 2022 7th Round (New England Patriots)
A 2021 2nd Team All-American under now-Los Angeles Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, Stueber started every game at right tackle on a line of scrimmage that earned the Joe Moore Award, given yearly to the top offensive line in the nation.
2) Julién Davenport, OT
- 6’7, 315
- College: Bucknell
- NFL Draft History: 2017 4th Round (Houston Texans)
32 career NFL starts is an incredible Practice Squad member resume for Davenport and his 36.5-inch arms (34 is customarily “average”).
3) Chris Blair, X-WR
- 6’2, 198
- College: Alcorn State
- Draft: 2020 UDFA (Green Bay Packers)
This 41 yard completion by Michael Penix Jr. down the sideline probably made Chris Blair feel good after his fumble.
— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) August 9, 2024
Penix’s spiral is butter 😮💨pic.twitter.com/cGVNhDOOgj
Chris Blair was one of the more obvious practice squad targets. "Been really proud of Chris Blair," Head Coach Raheem Morris said following the final preseason contest vs. the Jaguars. The production is there for Blair, having led the Falcons with eight catches and 154 receiving yards this preseason and turning in a 22.8 YPC average in the XFL in 2023.
4) Jesse Matthews, WR
- 6’, 190
- College: San Diego State
- Draft: 2023 UDFA (Houston Texans)
7 REC for 57 yards this preseason was enough for historic Aztec Jesse Matthews to get a PS spot.
5) Demone Harris, OLB
- 6’4, 272
- College: Buffalo
- Draft: 2018 UDFA (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
One more standout on the #Texans DL for y'all - Demone Harris has shown out through two weeks.
— Jordan Pun (@Texans_Thoughts) August 25, 2022
Versus the Rams he had 2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit, and 3 pressures.
He'll be right on that roster bubble but being able to line up on the edge and inside is a big plus. pic.twitter.com/dl7Msla8GM
Super Bowl LIV Winner (KC) Demone Harris is one of the more obvious practice squad targets. With 14 NFL games played and 1 start, Harris nearly made this team.
6) Natrone Brooks, CB
- 5’11, 176
- College: Southern Miss
- Draft: 2023 UDFA (Atlanta Falcons)
Another CB who got cut today who fits the ethos of a Dennard Wilson defense: Natrone Brooks.pic.twitter.com/efCMf4T5zH
— Mike Herndon (@MikeHerndonNFL) August 27, 2024
The defensive star of the second preseason game vs. the Baltimore Ravens? Natrone Brooks’s 13 tackles, 1 TFL, and 1 forced fumble dominated the night. A 2023 Practice Squad member, Brooks seemed to be the fan-favorite bubble player in 2024. Shifting from Ryan Nielsen’s Press-Man 4-3 scheme to Jimmy Lake’s Off-Zone 3-4 caters to a stronger year and more chances for Brooks.
7) Dylan Drummond, WR
- 6’, 186
- College: Eastern Michigan
- Draft: 2023 UDFA (Detroit Lions)
Dylan Drummond played in 48 games collegiately, recording 183 receptions, 2,208 yards (11.1 avg.), & 14 touchdowns. 6 catches for 22 yards in the recently completed preseason got the ex-Detroit Lions and New York Giants practice squad member a new pairing in Atlanta.
8) Zion Logue, DT
- 6’5, 310
- College: Georgia
- Draft: 2024 6th Round (ATL)
A 2x National Champion, Zion Logue played in 50 games for Kirby Smart’s “local” Dawgs. Set for the 0/1 Tech plug of this 3-4 defense, development time is needed to improve play strength.
9) LaCale London, DT
- 6’3, 297
- College: Western Illinois
- Draft: 2020 UDFA (Chicago Bears)
LaCale London played a lot of football in 2023, appearing in seven games for the Falcons (13 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 FR) and 10 for the XFL (33 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR).
10) Kevin King, CB
- 6’3, 200
- College: Washington
- Draft: 2017 33rd Overall Pick (Green Bay Packers)
Kevin King of the @AtlantaFalcons (formerly of the @packers) played his first NFL snaps since 2021 in the 2024 preseason opener. Four targets, no catches, one pass breakup, one interception. Not bad at all. pic.twitter.com/ywReQlnRMq
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) August 13, 2024
Kevin King is undoubtedly the most surprising cut for the 2024 Atlanta Falcons. The star of the Miami Dolphins game, King rose belief he could and would make the team by appearing at safety in the Game 3 loss vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. King will see active snaps this year whether it be at safety or cornerback. The familiar (Jerry Gray and Jimmy Lake) veteran is a huge practice squad addition.
11) Dane Cruikshank, S
- 6’1, 209
- College: Arizona
- Draft: 2018 5th Round (Tennessee Titans)
The most underappreciated and unrecognized resume on this practice squad? Dane Cruikshank. 54 NFL games played, 4 starts, and 42 tackles over six seasons with the Chicago Bears and Tennesee Titans is welcomed to Atlanta.
A 4.41 official 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine…not bad.
12) John Fitzpatrick, TE
- 6’7, 250
- College: Georgia
- Draft: 2022 6th Round (ATL)
Being best known for his inline blocking versus his receiving production, the addition of San Francisco’s Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley had John Fitzpatrick heading for the Practice Squad.
13) Carlos Washington Jr., RB
- 5’11, 220
- College: New Hampshire/Southeast Louisiana
- Draft: 2023 UDFA (ATL)
A preseason stat line of 29 rushes, 71 yards (2.4 YPC), and 1 TD for Carlos Washington Jr. was not enough to beat out 2024 6th Round pick Jase McClellan’s of 24 rushes, 97 yards (4.0 YPC), and 1 TD for the final RB spot on the 53-man roster, but enough for another year on Atlanta’s Practice Squad.
14) Monty Rice, LB
- 6’, 233
- College: Georgia
- Draft: 2021 3rd Round (Tennessee Titans)
Alabama-born, Rice keeps close to his parts, having played for the Tennessee Titans and the team in Louisiana. Well, it is back to Georgia like his college days as a 1st and 2nd Team All-SEC linebacker.
15) Elijah Wilkinson, OL
- 6'6, 314
- College: UMass
- Draft: 2017 UDFA (Denver Broncos)
Welcome back the big fella that helped hold down the Falcons line for nine games in 2022. Even last season he played nine more for the Arizona Cardinals, but having him on the practice squad provides a reliable potential call-up if the injury bug hits the Falcons too hard.
