After a tough day for the Falcons’ run defense, they’re shuffling the bottom of the roster.
Atlanta announced yesterday that it had cut ties with defensive lineman Jared Ivey and outside linebacker Drake Jackson. One or both could return to the practice squad, and my bet would be Ivey, given that the team prioritized picking him up off of waivers after roster cutdowns.
Ivey had appeared in seven games for Atlanta this year, moving around a bit and chipping in six pressures, a sack, six stops, and five
tackles, per Pro Football Focus. Against the Bears in particular he was a bit of a menace as a pass rusher, but over the past two games he had struggled mightily as a run defender working against Christian McCaffrey, Kaelon Black, Bucky Irving, and Kenneth Gainwell. There’s evident talent here as a pass rusher and I think he’s better than the past two weeks in run support, so I don’t think the Falcons are planning on letting him go if another team doesn’t snap him up.
Jackson, meanwhile, played 20 snaps over two games in Atlanta and was inactive against the Buccaneers. He may well return, too, assuming the Falcons can and will make room for him.
Why the moves? I think Atlanta Journal-Constitution beat writer Daniel Flick has it right:
James Pearce Jr. is expected to be ready to go this week, just in time to harry Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Abdullah, meanwhile, was super effective as a pass rusher against the Saints in Week 4—the last time he suited up for Atlanta—and has been a solid run defender and special teamer throughout his career. Getting both of those players back would be a boost for this defense in a tough matchup.
If Ivey and Jackson aren’t back, we’ll wish them well, but I’m hoping we’ll see both land on the practice squad.
